an answer for continuing education & continuing competence rn specialty certification:
TRANSCRIPT
An Answer for Continuing Education & Continuing Competence
RN Specialty Certification:
The formal recognition of the specialized knowledge, skills, and experience demonstrated by the achievement of standards identified by a nursing specialty to promote optimal health outcomes
ABNS is an acknowledged leader in recognizing and accrediting RN specialty certification boards.
Certification Defined by
American Board of Nursing
Specialties (ABNS)
Licensure allows you to legally enter practice (one time measurement through NCLEX-RN©)
Certification is voluntary and measures achievement in RN’s specific area of practice
Re-certification assures the public that the RN is maintaining competence through knowledge and participation in their specialty
What is State Licensure v.
Certification?
RNs enter the profession through licensure (authorized to practice across the entire Nursing Practice Act)
As RNs progress throughout their careers, specialty practice emerges
RNs who want to validate and enhance that specialty practice seek, prepare, and obtain specialty certification
More AboutRN Specialty Certification
90% of nurse manager respondents preferred hiring certified RNs over non-certified RNs
58% of nurse manager respondents see a positive performance differences in certified nurses
2009 IOM report stated that for RNs to keep their knowledge and skills up to date, the best way to achieve that was through ongoing certification that satisfies CE requirements
What the Reports
Says
Patients, families, employers, and nurses all benefit from specialty certification
Certification assures patients that RNs are competent
Employers supporting specialty certification are better positioned to prosper in highly competitive health care market
Benefitsof Hiring
Certified RNs
Validates specific nurse practice knowledge and skills to remain professionally competent in intricate health care environment
Improves capacity and use of evidence-based guidelines in nurse practice
Advances ability to remain on front edge with emerging technologies and processes
Meets challenges of evolving scopes of practice
Reinforces professional and career development
Benefits of Certificatio
n to RNs
Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN®) promotes RN specialty certification as a way to fulfill continuing education (CE) or continuing competence (CC)
BCEN supports all RN specialty certifications
Five pilot states initially targeted (FL, MO, OR, TX, VA)
BCEN Certification
Project Benefits All
Certified RNs
AL, AR, DE, FL, GA, IA, KY, LA, MA, MI, MN, NE, NH, NM, ND, OK, PA, SC, TX, UT, VA, WA & WV
AK, CA, IL, KS, MT & NJ only allow the education leading toward certification to count toward CE/CC
29 States Recognize
RN Specialty Certification
for CE/CC
Some states do not mandate CE or CC requirements
15 states have no CE requirements: AZ, CO, CT, HI, IN, ME, MD, MO, MS, NY, OR, RI, SD, VT & WI
• NC, TN & WY have no CE requirement but do have CC requirements
Certification Project
Challenges
States and health care professions are exploring ways to measure current practice
RN specialty certification is an excellent way to demonstrate ongoing competence ‒‒ it is tied to a specific practice focus beyond a general license
Grassroots coalitions of all stakeholders enhance advocacy
Linking RN specialty certification to IOM Future of Nursing recommendations is an advocacy strategy with potential
Devising comprehensive communications plans add value
Regulatory and legislative actions with boards of nursing and state legislators must be monitored
Certification Project Lessons Learned
If your state accepts RN specialty certification for CE/CC
Practice Positive PR ‒ tell colleague, managers, HR departments, etc.
Write newsletter articles for employer and nurse newsletters and magazines in your state
Ask your board of nursing to promote it on its web site where RNs go to renew licenses
What Can You Do?
If your state does not accept RN specialty certification for CE/CC
Encourage colleagues, management, patient groups, etc., to let board of nursing and legislators know how important specialty certification is for RNs and maintaining CE/CC
Write newsletter articles for employer and nurse newsletters and magazines in your state encouraging certification and CE/CC link
Make presentations advocating specialty certification at state nursing, health care, and patient-related groups in your state
Develop a stakeholder coalition
What Can You Do?
BCEN Contact:Kathleen ReamPrincipal, KAR Associates, Inc.Phone: 571-213-5662Email: [email protected]
Certification advocacy toolkits available on request
Seeking Further
Support & Informatio
n