There may not be a letter ‘K’ in certification, but there is certainly a ‘K’ in some of the certification acronyms. What does it mean?

The ‘K’ in some certifications, such as CCRN-K (Acute/Critical Care Knowledge Professional) and CHFN-K (Non-Clinical Certified Heart Failure Nurse), stands for ‘knowledge.’ Many of us – myself included – work in roles away from the bedside, but still stay informed and knowledgeable in our specialties. These certification programs allow us to demonstrate specialized knowledge that positively impacts other nurses, patients, and organizations. If you’ve transitioned away from a bedside role in nursing and want to learn more about the ‘-K’ certifications, visit your certifying association to see if this is offered. You can find a full list of nursing certifications in our Certification Guide.