Congratulations! You’ve graduated from nursing school and are well on your way to a bright future. The issue is finding an open position.
To swing hiring decisions in your favor, you’re going to have to learn how to display nursing credentials. It’s all about ordering your diplomas and certifications in a way that’s easy to read.
You’ve also got to pick the right credentials to display and choose the best formatting. Knowing when to show off your experience can also be a struggle. We know, it can be a little confusing.
That’s why we’re here to help. Check out this nursing credentials display guide to learn how it’s done.
Why Display Your Credentials?
So, first thing’s first. Why should you show off to outsourced credentialing? After all, it is a lot of trouble that’s going to take time.
Going through the steps does make it easier to find employment, it allows nurses to maintain a sense of professionalism, and it lets facilities know that you have the experience to get the job done.
It Makes Finding Employment Easier
It’s not easy to find work right after you graduate. You’ve got to do something to pay back all those student loans, however.
That’s where displaying nursing credentials come in handy. By showing off what you have to bring to the table at the top of your resume or on your application, you get the chance to make a good first impression.
Maintain Professionalism
Having a good nursing credentials display helps you stand out from your co-workers and other applicants. It shows that at the end of the day, you’re a professional.
It’s due to that professionalism that you’ll be considered first when it comes time to choose someone for a promotion.
It Shows Expertise
There are certain medical forms, such as prescriptions, where it becomes necessary for you to display your expertise.
If you don’t, nobody will have any reason to believe that you’re actually licensed for the job that you say you’re licensed for.
How to Display Nursing Credentials?
Now that you know why you should display nursing credentials, it’s time to learn how to go about it. It’s all a matter of knowing when to list them.
You’ve also got to pick the right order, work on your formatting, pick the best credentials to display, and list off your certifications.
Know When to List Them
There are plenty of situations when it’s a good idea to display your credentials. Most of the time, it’s when you’re filling out certain documents in the medical office.
For example, when you’re writing out a prescription or someone’s medical records. You’ll also have to give your licensing information when you’re adjusting a patient’s chart.
If your practice goes to court for whatever reason, you’ll have to list off your credentials during your testimony.
Let’s say that you write a huge paper that gets published in a medical journal. The best way to prove that you know what you’re talking about is by disclosing your credentials.
Again, when your applying around for jobs, putting your degrees and certifications at the top of your resume will increase your chances of getting hired.
It’s All About Order
There’s an actual order in which you’ll have to list your credentials in. If you go out of order, it will show a lack of professionalism on your part.
The first thing that you’ll have to write down is your degrees. The general rule of thumb is to list the highest one that you’ve got.
Next up are your licenses. Make sure that you don’t leave out a single certification.
Your designation is a list of practices that you’re allowed to perform in your state.
Your national certifications are a little different than your general licenses. They’re special awards that you’ve received from organizations.
If you have any recognitions that we haven’t listed yet, those will go at the very end.
Choose the Right Formating
We sort of touched on the format that everything needs to be in above, but we’re going to go into a little bit more detail here. The entire thing starts with your name.
After you write down your name, you’ll list all your credentials in the correct order. Make sure you separate everything with commas. If you don’t, it will be more than a little confusing to read.
When you’re writing acronyms, you don’t have to use periods. LPN or RN will work just fine.
What If You Have More Than One Certification?
Do you have more than one certification that you want to show off? In most cases, the order you go in is all a matter of personal preference.
The only time you really need to worry about the order is if you have non-nursing certifications that you want to display.
We recommend starting with your actual medical-related licenses and certifications and leading up to the other ones. This way, all the industry-relevant information is front and center.
Show Off Your Expertise
Including your expertise on your resume shows that you’re a professional in your field. When it comes time to consider a nurse for a promotion, you’ll be the first one they think of.
That is if you know how to display nursing credentials. If you go out of order or leave out key information, it won’t do you any favors. We hope that you’re able to use these tips to show that you have what it takes to make it in the medical industry.
For more tips that will help you succeed, visit the Business section of our blog.
