What Is the Perceived Value of Certification Among Registered Nurses? A Systematic Review.

Purpose: To explore how registered nurses (certified, noncertified, and managers) value certification as determined by the Perceived Value of Certification Tool, review the psychometric properties of the instrument, and ascertain the benefits and barriers to nursing specialty certification.

Design: Systematic review (without meta-analysis) of 18 studies representing 26,534 registered nurses.

Methods: Rigorous processes were used to minimize bias; to identify, appraise, and synthesize studies to explore how registered nurses value certification; and to ascertain the benefits and barriers to nursing specialty certification.