Why Should I Get My CNOR

Publish Date: May 31, 2017

Would you give up three hours and forty five minutes to enhance your professional image?  That’s how long nurses have to complete the CNOR® exam. There is, of course, preparation time leading up to the exam but if you manage that process efficiently it will be time well spent and you will be rewarded with being recognized as a CNOR. However, there have been discussions over the years, since the CNOR® exam was first given in 1978¹, if the time, effort, and monetary resources are actually worth the investment. The good news is there are plenty of reasons why pursuing your CNOR® certification is a smart and practical decision, perhaps even a life-changing one.

Here are three extremely good reasons to pursue your CNOR® certification. We think you’ll agree it’s more than just a nice-to-have.

1. You could get a better job – on those long, unhappy, draining days at your current job imagine presenting your resume that includes your CNOR® credentials to your dream employer (they’re out there!) and then imagine how your resume will move to the top of the list  simply based on the fact that you have this credential. Yes, there’s a chance you may work at your current facility until you retire. But there’s also an extremely good chance you won’t. With your CNOR® certification, you will undoubtedly stand out when going head-to-head with your perioperative peers on your application and that’s the first step to landing the interview.


2. You could save a life – according to a 2014 study conducted by the staff at the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) and the University of Kansas specialty nursing certification contributes to improved patient outcomes in hospitals nationwide.² This research was sponsored by CCI (Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI). In another study by McHugh et al in 2013, they associated nursing characteristics such as higher levels of education and certification with significantly lower rates of patient mortality and failure to rescue.³ Knowledge gives you the power to keep your patients safer.


3. You may find increased job satisfaction in your current position – Nurses who obtain their certification are often viewed as having the capacity to take on more responsibility, leading to career advancement and opportunities. Some facilities may even require completion of specific certifications to ensure continued advancement.⁴  Receiving your CNOR® certification is an effective way to breathe new life into your current position. Maybe you’ve been looking to pursue a leadership role? Demonstrating your commitment to the perioperative profession will let management know you’re ready for more responsibility and help you get the recognition you’ve been seeking. According to Mary Fearon, MSN, RN, CNOR, AORN perioperative practice specialist, “Obtaining your CNOR® certification confirms your level of knowledge about perioperative nursing and it also provides career advancement opportunities, including potential wage increases.” Getting the job you want, keeping your patients safer, and making your current position the best it can be can all be potentially accelerated by obtaining your CNOR® certification.

Prepare for the Test