Celebrate

Attaining certification validates that a nurse has met rigorous requirements for both experience and knowledge in oncology nursing. It’s a reason for both nurses and their employers to celebrate.

 

Most certified nurses say they were encouraged to apply for certification by a colleague. You can help promote certification to your colleagues! Here are some ways to encourage certification at your organization:

  • Posting flyers on unit bulletin boards
  • Submitting announcements for newsletters
  • Distribute the brochure, Certification Makes a Difference and the Certification Registration Manual to nurses who are not certified.
  • Present a program about the benefits of certification at a chapter meeting or at your institution.
  • Email a study tip of the week to motivate nurses who are preparing for certification.
  • Organize a review course for potential test candidates.
  • Download fun resources to hand out to nurses interested in certification
  • Place an announcement in your chapter or institution newsletter that reads, "Ask Me About Certification!" and include your name, phone number, and email address.

You can also join the Oncology Nursing Certification Advocate program. As an advocate, you will receive the most up-to-date information about certification. Advocates will also be given ribbons to wear at select oncology conferences.

To help you promote certification, we offer a number of free brochures and posters.

For more information, contact ONCC at 877-769-6622 or email us.

Taking the time to honor the hard work of your certified nurses will boost morale, enhance job satisfaction, encourage other nurses to become certified and improve the quality of care at your facility by having more knowledgeable nurses. Here are a few ideas for recognizing certified nurses. We invite you to share your celebration ideas on our Facebook page.

Celebrate Certified Nurses Day™, March 19

Endorsed by the American Nurses Association and many other nursing certification organizations, this is a special day of recognition and celebration for certified nurses around the world. March 19 was picked as the day to honor certified nurses since it's the birthday of Margretta "Gretta" Madden Styles, the renowned expert of nurse credentialing.

  • Notify the local media that it's Certified Nurses Day and include the names of all certified nurses on your staff.
  • Invite certified nurses to a banquet, tea or luncheon held in their honor.
  • Reward certified nurses with gift certificates or special bonuses.
  • Have special signs made and posted throughout your facility announcing Certified Nurses Day and featuring photos of all of your certified nurses.
  • Send letters of appreciation to all of your certified nurses.
  • Offer a free meal to all nurses who attend a certification drive lead by certified nurses on your staff.

Offer personal encouragement & recognition

  • Encouragement from a supervisor or coworker can be a great motivator to pursue certification so mention the advantages of certification during annual reviews.
  • Present certified nurses with a credential pin.
  • Send a letter of congratulations from the CEO or other administrator.
  • Add certified nurses’ credentials to their name badges and business cards.

Provide financial assistance for nurses to pursue certification

  • Offer reimbursement for test fees and expenses.
  • Provide paid time off to take the test.
  • Pay for a review course.
  • Provide a library of study materials.

Reward certified nurses

  • Give certified nurses a monetary bonus for attaining or renewing their oncology credential.
  • Provide pay differentials for certified nurses.
  • Offer shift/day work schedule preferences to certified nurses.

Recognize certified nurses publicly

  • Display certified nurses' certificates on the unit.
  • Publish the names and photos of certified nurses in your facility newsletter.
  • Send press releases to local newspapers.
  • Host a special event for certified nurses during Nurse's Week.
  • Display the names of certified nurses on a plaque in the unit. (ONCC offers a free recognition plaque to patient care settings where a majority of nurses are ONCC-certified).
  • Nominate a certified nurse for an ONCC certified nurse of the year award