According to data published in Kidney Nutrition Journal.

Those who received a financial reimbursement for graduation were more likely to think it was worth more.

Understanding the values ​​Registered Dietitians (RDNs) place on their specialty certifications can provide healthcare administrators or accrediting agencies with knowledge about the factors that influence RDNs decisions about seeking certification. specialized. The financial costs associated with the specialized certification examination and re-examinations could prevent DRDs from prosecuting them, especially if the DRDs do not receive a financial benefit ”, Amanda Groesbeck, RDN/LDN, CNSC, senior director of food and nutrition at Morrison Healthcare in Charlotte, NC, and colleagues wrote. “This study aimed to assess the perceived value of RDNs who hold the Certified Renal Nutrition Specialist (CSR) designation using the Certification Perceived Value Tool (PVCT) and explore whether there are any differences in value scores between RDNs that received a refund for achieving CSR certification and those that did not.

In a cross-sectional study, researchers sent an Internet survey to 553 RDNs who held the CSR designation. The survey included demographic questions and 18 statements of value that weighed in on the total perceived value of certification among participants, of which 12 were statements of intrinsic value and six were statements of extrinsic value. Participants rated the statements on a 4-point Likert scale including “strongly disagree” (SD = 1), “disagree” (D = 2), “agree” (A = 3 ), ‘Strongly agree’ ” (SA = 4) and ” no opinion. ”

The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare value scores between participants who received a refund and those who did not.

Of the 553 RDNs invited to join the survey, 184 completed it (median age was 44; 95.1% were female; 81.5% were Caucasian; 96.2% n were not Hispanic). The survey found that 53.3% of participants received a refund for passing the certified specialist exam or re-examination. Additionally, those who received a refund had higher perceived extrinsic value scores than those who did not.

Overall, the median PVCT scores were 61 of 72 for total, 43.5 of 48 for intrinsic values, and 18 of 24 for extrinsic values. Statements that most participants agreed with were “valid specialist knowledge” and “provides evidence of professional engagement”. The lowest value statement was “increase salary”.

“In conclusion, the total, intrinsic and extrinsic value scores of those who received a refund for the CSR diploma were higher than the scores of those who did not receive a refund; however, there was only a statistically significant difference in the extrinsic value score. RDNs with CSR credentials value their specialist certification, with 12 of the 18 value statements achieving at least 80% agree, ”Groesbeck and colleagues wrote. “To increase the perceived value of specialized certifications by the nursing profession, the Magnet Board of Nursing suggests strategies for developing extrinsic values ​​based on the PVCT, such as the offer of reimbursement, a clinical scale program or the recognition of those who have a specialized certification with a special badge. . Considering the lower extrinsic value of CSR certification in this study, the use of similar strategies may increase the recognition and participation of RDNs in this certification program.

According to the researchers, the limitations of this study include a possible response bias.