State licensure is active until retirement and otherwise only revoked in cases of serious professional misconduct.
Certifications generally must be periodically renewed by examination or the completion of a prescribed number of continuing education units (CEUs).
In this role, the nurse becomes something similar to an auditor and a teacher of patient care quality and risk for the entire hospital staff.
In the United States and Canada, many nurses who choose a specialty become certified in that area, signifying that they possess expert knowledge.
Certifications do, however, instill professionalism and make the nurse more attractive to prospective and current employers.
Some hospitals and other health-care facilities are willing to pay certified nurses extra when they work within their specialties.