Specialty certification demonstrates knowledge and expertise in an area of nursing practice resulting in significant benefits to nurses, patients, public, and hiring organizations, empowering professional practice, and improving nurse retention and patient outcomes. However, a large majority of nurses working in dialysis have never validated their knowledge and skills through specialty certification. A one-group pre- and post-intervention study was conducted, with a sample group of registered nurses working in dialysis, using an asynchronous peer-to-peer education regarding empowering practice through specialty certification. The effect on psychological empowerment was measured using a 2-tailed t test with a comparison of enrollments in pre-certification courses. Results showed a 25% increase in course enrollments, but no statistical significance in psychological empowerment. Future study is needed on how nephrology nursing certification impacts patient outcomes, empowerment, workplace environment, and staff retention in nephrology.

We would like to acknowledge and thank Dr. Angela Adams, Dr. Gary Johnson, and Dr. Audrey Auer, for their support and guidance during this project.

Continuing Education Instructions and Disclosure Information:

Contact hours available until 6/30/2024.

Requirements for Successful Completion:
Complete the learning activity in its entirety and complete the online nursing continuing professional development evaluation. You will be able to print your NCPD certificate after you complete the evaluation.

Disclosure of relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies (planners, faculty, reviewers, authors):

Editorial Board Disclosures:
Paula Dutka, MSN, RN, CNN, discloses that she is a consultant for Rockwell Medical.

All other members of the Editorial Board had no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this nursing continuing professional development education activity.

Author(s) Disclosures:
The author(s) reported no actual or potential conflict of interest.

Commercial Support:
No commercial support declared.

This article was reviewed and formatted for contact hour credit by Beth Ulrich, EdD, RN, FACHE, FAONL, FAAN, Nephrology Nursing Journal Editor-in-Chief, and Sally Russell, MN, CMSRN, CPP, ANNA Education Director.

Accreditation Statement:
The American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA) is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

ANNA is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP 17499.

This NCPD article meets the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission’s (NNCC’s) continuing nursing education requirements for certification and recertification.

ANNA urges participants to be aware of the CE requirements for re-licensure in the states in which they hold a license.

Learning Outcome:
After completing this learning activity, the learner will be able to discuss the significance of specialty certification and identify its benefits to nurses, patients, organizations, and the public.

Susan Stewart DNP, MBA, BS, ASN, RN, COHN-S, COHC

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