title: Credentialing Public Health Nurses: Current Issues and Next Steps Forward.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this descriptive, cross-sectional study was to identify Public Health Nurses' (PHN) perceived motivators and barriers to seeking PHN board certification.
  
  
  METHODS
  In collaboration with the Quad Council of Public Health Nursing Organizations, PHNs from across the United States were invited to complete the PHN Certification Survey, a 14-item online questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 912 surveys were completed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PHNs were motivated to seek PHN board certification by three overarching categories: professional competence, personal satisfaction, and financial incentives. Frequently cited barriers to certification were lack of knowledge of certification opportunities, being unaware of eligibility criteria, cost, perceived lack of value/reward by employer, and preparation time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Demonstrating a highly educated, competent, and reliable PHN workforce can only be achieved through ongoing professional development and credentialing. PH stakeholders (i.e., PHN organizations, employers, PHNs, etc.) need a strategic approach to address the main barriers to certification identified in this study (a) awareness of certification and eligibility criteria, and (b) recognition of the credential by employers. In addition, research on the relationship between PHN credentialing and population health outcomes is essential.
authors.affiliation: University of WI-Green Bay Professional Program in Nursing, Green Bay, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Christine L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Vandenhouten
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Crystal L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: DeVance-Wilson
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Florida State University, Sarasota, Florida.
authors.forename: Barbara Battin
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Little
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002568:Certification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003406:Credentialing; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D064689:Nurses, Public Health / Q000523:psychology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011361:Professional Competence; D011637:Public Health Nursing; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits; D012956:Societies, Nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
keywords: certification; credential; public health; public health nurse; workforce development