Beyond the Credential: How Nursing Certification Strengthens Practice and Professional Growth
Course Overview
Nursing certification is more than a professional credential. It reflects a nurse’s commitment to specialty knowledge, evidence-based practice, lifelong learning, and improved patient and organizational outcomes. In this episode, Dr. Margo Halm discusses the value of nursing certification through the lens of nursing science, professional development, and practice improvement. Listeners will explore how certification supports clinical confidence, strengthens professional practice environments, and helps nurses connect specialty expertise with evidence-based care.
Listen, Learn, and Earn CE Hours with this podcast course. Available on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast apps.
Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:
- Describe the purpose and value of nursing certification in professional nursing practice.
- Differentiate certification from licensure, academic preparation, and continuing education.
- Discuss how certification supports evidence-based practice, specialty expertise, and professional growth.
- Identify strategies nurses and organizations can use to support certification, mentorship, and lifelong learning.
About the Author/Presenter
Mackenzie Butler, DNP, MSN, RN-BC is the Head of Nursing Products at Colibri Group, where she leads innovative solutions to advance nursing education and professional development. She holds a Doctorate in Nursing Practice and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership. In addition to her leadership role, Mackenzie serves as adjunct faculty at the College of Saint Benedict, sharing her expertise with future healthcare professionals. Her professional interests include healthcare simulation and leveraging technology to enhance learning outcomes.
Margo A. Halm, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN received an Associate Degree of Nursing in 1981 from Iowa Central Community College, a BSN and Master of Arts in Nursing from the University of Iowa, in 1985 and 1987 respectively, and a PhD from the University of Minnesota in 2005. She is a member of the American Association of Critical Care Nurse’s, and Sigma Theta Tau International. Dr. Halm has presented nationally and internationally, coauthored articles, and conducted nursing research studies on topics such as epidural analgesia, complementary therapies, women and heart disease, family presence during resuscitation and other family centered interventions. Currently, Dr. Halm practices as the Associate Chief Nurse Executive of Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice at the VA Portland Health Care System in Portland, OR
Audience/Accreditations and Approvals
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details):
Nursing
If you require special accommodations, please contact Colibri Healthcare Support by clicking here: Contact Us
