ALL OUT FOR EXCELLENCE CERTIFICATION AND DEGREE COMPLETION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES

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ALL OUT FOR EXCELLENCE CERTIFICATION AND
DEGREE COMPLETION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES
Quad Council for Public Health Nursing
Organizations Educational Webinar April 11,
2012
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PRESENTERS

• Moderator
• Glynnis LaRosa, RN, MPH, CPHQ
• ASTDN President 2011-12
• Boston, MA
• Presenters
• Lisa Campbell, DNP, RN, APHN-BC, GNP-BC
• PHN Section-APHA, ASTDN
• Victoria, TX
• Michelle Cravetz, MS, RN-BC, APHN-BCASTDN,
  ACHNE, PHN Section-APHA
• Albany, NY
• Christine Vandenhouten, PhD, RN, APHN-BCACHNE,
  PHN Section-APHA
• Green Bay, Wisconsin

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SPONSORED BY
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Acknowledgements

• ACHNE Education Committee Members
• Barbara Battin Little, DNP, MPH, RN, APHN-BC, CNE
  (Chair)
• Pamela Ark, PhD, RN
• Laurel Janssen Breen, PhD RN CNE
• Crystal DeVance-Wilson, MSN, MBA, APRN, BC
• Mary Ann Drake, PhD, RN
• Diane Ernst, RN, MSN, MBA, PhD
• Cathy Hughes, DNP, MSN, RN
• Joan Kub, PhD, APHN-BC
• Eileen Sarsfield, PhD, PHCNS-BC 
• Christine Savage, RN, PhD, CARN
• Christine L. Vandenhouten, PhD, RN, APHN-BC

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Agenda

• PHN Practice Standards and Credentialing
• Education
• PHN Ready Program continuing education
• RN-to-BSN and Masters Programs
• National Certifications
• American Nurses Credentialing Center
• National Board of Public Health Examiners
• Resources for studying

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Learning Objectives

• At the end of this offering, the learner will be
  able to
• List at least three ways PHNs are accountable for
  their practice
• Describe continuing education opportunities
  through the Public Health Nurse Ready Program
• Locate resources for RN-to-BSN and Masters degree
  completion on the web
• Describe opportunities for PHNs to attain
  certification through the American Nurses
  Credentialing Center and the National Board of
  Public Health Examiners
• Apply exam preparation strategies to
  certification exams

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Professionals are Accountable for their Practice

• Public Health Nurses are accountable for their
  practice by
• Establishing standards and credentials for their
  practice
• Meeting professional standards
• Achieving relevant credentials and
• Meeting program and organizational standards.

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Establishing Standards And Credentials

• Standards may be applied on an individual or
  organizational level.
• American Nurses Association -
• Scope and Standards of Practice for Public
  Health Nurses
• Developed by PHNs to outline expectations for
  the highest level of practice.
• Quad Council of Public Health Nursing
  Organizations
• Core Competencies for Public Health Nurses
• Outlines performance expectations for PHNs at
  different levels of practice.
• Council on Linkages between Academia and Practice
  
• Core Competencies for Public Health
  Professionals - Not specific to nursing or
  public health nurses.
• Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) public
  health agency accreditation.

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Establishing PHN Credentials

• Level of education Pre- and Post-employment
  requirements.
• Scope and Standards require BSN as minimum for
  PHNs.
• Some states require BSN as minimum education for
  PHNs.
• Licensure What is legally required to practice?
• Cannot work as a nurse in the state without this
  credential.
• Established by states RN, APN.
• Workplace requirements Employer-based.
• Verification of transcripts, licensure, work
  history.
• Wide range of jobs in public health employ
  nurses.
• May determine reimbursement.

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Public Health Nurse (PHN) Ready Program

• Free, online education
• Available 24/7 wherever there is internet access
• Based on Quad Council competencies
• CNE available for every offering - free
• Awards a certificate
• Especially valuable to nurses new to public
  health or re-entering the field
• Useful to those who want a refresher
• Does not offer academic credit CNEs only
• www.phnready.org

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RN-To-BSN Completion

• Scope and Standards document calls for BSN as
  entry level to Public Health
• It is at the BSN level where the student learns
  about the community as patient
• Myth or Fact? http//www.nsna.org/Portals/0/Skins/
  NSNA/pdf/Imprint_Jan09_Feat_Leonard.pdf
• To find a BSN completion program, go to
  http//www.rntobsnprograms.com/rn-to-bsn-completio
  n-programs/

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Seeking a Higher Degree

• MSN and/or MPH?
• Doctoral Degrees DNP, PhD
• Preparation for higher levels of
  practice/different type of practice?
• See Your Guide to Graduate Nursing Programs
  www.aacn.nche.edu/publications/brochures/GradStude
  ntsBrochure.pdf

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Considerations

• Cost vs. benefit of getting the degree
• Time commitments/restraints
• Money look for sources of financial assistance.
  See http//www.aacn.nche.edu/students/financia
  l-aid and, for future Nurse Educators
  http//www.aacn.nche.edu/media-relations/FS_Fundin
  g.pdf
• Family and employer factors
• Goals career and personal
• Format in-person/on-line/hybrids
• What are you looking for out of your educational
  experience?
• What can you put in?

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National Certifications
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National Certifications

• American Nurses Credentialing Center
• For nurses only
• APHN-BC, PHCNS-BC or CHN
• National Board of Public Health Examiners
• CPH Certified in Public Health
• Must have completed an MPH
• Public health generalist

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Public health Certification Survey Results

• Perspectives from ACHNE, APHA-PHN, ASTDN, ANA
  members

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PHN Certification Survey Results

• Survey Conducted in March/April, 2012
• Sample 897 Surveys completed
• Membership in sponsoring organizations

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PHN Certification Survey Results

• The Sample
• Primary Setting
• 65 Official PH setting
• 17 Faculty
• Others - Hospital, State Consultant, School
  Health, CDC
• Primary Role
• 33 Administrative
• 30 Staff Nurse
• 18 Faculty
• 2 Educator
• Education
• 16 ADN
• 36 BSN
• 30 Masters prepared (21 MSN 6 MPH 3 MS)
• 16 Doctorally prepared

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PHN Certification Survey Results

• Certification Status
• Majority (69) of respondents are not certified
  in Public Health (PHN or PH)
• 79 were never certified in PHN or PH
• Current Certifications held include
• 4 (35) APHN-BC
• 5 (42) PHCNS-BC
• 3 (22) PH (non-nursing)
• 22(190) Hold other certifications
• 60 interested in becoming certified
• 55 PHN
• 5 PH

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PHN Certification Survey Results

• Rewards, Incentives, Barriers to Certification
• 79 Were unaware of the new eligibility criteria
  for PHN certification.
• 90 Employers do not require certification
• 75 No incentive offered by employer
• 12 Certification helped them when applying to
  new positions
• 32 Felt it did not help
• 55 Did not know if it made a difference

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PHN Certification Survey Results

• Barriers to Certification
• 52 Lack of knowledge of certification
  opportunities
• 52 Unaware of eligibility criteria
• 41 Cost
• 40 Not valued/rewarded by employer
• 36 Time to Prepare
• 16 Other - retired, job security in question,
  no study guide, unaware of testing process
  or location.

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PHN Certification Survey Results

• Motivators to becoming Certified
• 58 Enhanced Professional Credibility
• 55 Evidence of Professional Commitment
• 51 Personal Satisfaction
• 50 Feeling of Personal Accomplishment
• 49 Validates Specialized Knowledge
• 44 Professional Challenge
• 42 Indicates Higher Level of Clinical
  Competence
• 32 Increased Marketability
• 26 Recognition from Peers
• 25 Recognition from other Healthcare
  Professionals
• 14 Required by Employer
• 12 Increased Consumer Confidence
• 10 Increased Salary

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PHN Certification Survey Results

• Certification Preparation
• 62 4 - One hour webinars with content review
• 58 One hour webinar certification options
• 57 One hour webinar How to Prepare/Study
  Resources
• 32 4 Hour Content Review Webinar
• 7 Other
• Regional review (face to face)
• One on One trainings
• Self-paced, self study modules online
• Study guide (paper)

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CertificationADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES
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AMERICAN NURSES CREDENTIALING CENTER (ANCC)

• Different categories have been provided for PHNs
• Public Health Nurse, Advanced (APHN-BC-Advanced
  Public Health Nurse-Board Certified). Currently
  available.
• Clinical Nurse Specialist in Public/Community
  Health (PHCNS-BC) Exam has been retired/can be
  renewed if professional development and practice
  hours requirements are met. No testing option
  for renewal.
• Community Health Nursing - Exam also retired, but
  can be renewed if professional development and
  practice hour requirements have been met. No
  testing option for renewal.
• Initial certification is renewed every 5 years.

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Eligibility - ANCC Exams
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Recertification Issues - ANCC

• Can track continuing education credits in the
  ANCC system between certification periods, which
  is very helpful.
• TRAIN and other Learning Management Systems may
  also be used to track hours of continuing
  education.
• Applications for renewal are due 8 weeks before
  certification lapses.
• For 2 exams(Clinical Nurse Specialist in Public/
  Community Health or PHCNS-BC and Community
  Health Nursing), there is no testing option
  available for renewal.

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Options for Renewal

• Option A Professional Development plus Practice
  Hours
• Current, active RN license
• Hold a current ANCC certification (not lapsed)
• Complete within the 5 years preceding renewal
  application
• Professional development requirements for your
  certification specialty and
• 1,000 practice hours in your certification role
  and population/specialty.
• Option B Professional Development plus Testing
• This option applies only to those certifications
  in which an exam is available.
• Current, active RN license
• Hold a current ANCC certification
• Within the 5 years preceding your renewal
  application
• Complete the professional development
  requirements for your specific certification and
• Pass the exam. (If you do not pass the exam, your
  certification is no longer valid.)

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Practice Hours Required for renewal

• You must complete a minimum of 1,000 practice
  hours in your certification specialty within the
  5 years preceding the postmark on your renewal
  application.
• You can count hours of employment or as a
  volunteer.
• Faculty can use hours of direct clinical
  supervision of students for clinical practice.
  The direct clinical supervision must be in the
  certification specialty.
• Advanced practice (CNS and NP) faculty must have
  direct supervision of advanced practice nursing
  students.

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Professional Development Hours required for
Renewal

• Must be completed within the 5 years preceding
  renewal in two of the six professional
  development categories.
• Categories 15 may be doubled 6 may not. (See
  next slide for categories.)
• Beginning January 1, 2014, all candidates must
  complete Category 1 (75 continuing education
  hours), plus one additional category.
• Candidates are allowed to fulfill the entire
  Professional Development requirement by
  submitting twice under Category 1, for a total
  of 150 continuing education hours.

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Categories, Summarized
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Materials and resourcesAvailable from ANCC

• Sample test questions
• Posters, brochures to promote certification
• PDFs of publications are available from ANCC
• ANCC will mail multiple copies to facilities -
  complete an online form
• ANCC Certification Applications
• School Codes Directory
• Building A Better Future
• Film showing value of certification to nurses,
  administrators, patients
• Faculty can share the link with students or
  request a free DVD anccmarketing_at_ana.org
• Recommended Reading List
• Review Seminar - Available to schools/agencies
• School/agency provides space and audio-visual
  needs
• A minimum of 25 attendees are required, but with
  advanced notice, ANCC will market to fill the
  room.

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National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE)

• CPH exam Certified in Public Health
• Generalist not specific to PH Nursing
• An alternative certification for those who have
  earned a graduate level degree (Masters or
  Doctoral) from a school or program of public
  health accredited by the Council on Education for
  Public Health (CEPH)
• http//www.publichealthexam.org/Exam.cfm
• May compete with ANCC for credentialing of PHNs
  with MPH
• Maintenance requirements currently being
  determined 50 hours every 2 years

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How do the Tests Compare?CONTENT AREAS
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Exam Preparation

• Both organizations have study guides available.
• Additional information is available on their
  websites.
• Develop a study plan early.

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CPH Exam Resources

• Online resources available http//www.nbphe.org/
  study.cfm
• ASPH Study Guide http//www.asph.org/cphstudygui
  de/
• Jones and Bartlett Study Guide
• www.jblearning.com/catalog/9780763779269/
• Webinars on NBPHE website http//www.nbphe.org/we
  binar.cfm
• Practice Exam Questions can be found at
  http//www.nbphe.org/FAQs.cfmSampleQs

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Preparing for Certifying exams study tips

• What can you do on your own?
• Read all materials on the website very carefully.
  
• Look carefully at the topical areas covered and
  assess where you need to spend more of
  your time preparing.
• Use current texts to study.
• Review class notes and materials.
• Look up online resources
• Download and take the sample test.

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More Study Tips

• Prepare for the process of test-taking
• Review the test procedures described on the
  website.
• Find out where your nearest testing center is.
  Many centers allow you to arrange a tour before
  the test date.
• Leave time to prepare on test day. Remember your
  admission paperwork.
• Can you make it a group project?
• Study Buddies are very helpful, even if they
  are virtual.
• If you think you can muster 25 people, consider
  asking ANCC to give a review course at your
  facility.

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Study Guide

• Refer to the Study Guide.
• Formatted by Topical Area.
• See Reference List.

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Upcoming Workshops

• ASTDN

• ACHNE

• Wednesday, May 9th
• 1230 to 4 PM
• Austin, TX
• Review of study guide and study tips

• Saturday, June 9th
• 1015 -1115 AM
• Portland, Oregon
• Overview of certification process and study tips

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QUESTIONS ANSWERS

• The link to the archive and the slides will be
  posted on the ASTDN website at www.astdn.org
• An email will be sent via the ASTDN, ACHNE, and
  APHA-PHN section list serves when the archive is
  ready
• Dr. Lisa Campbell can be contacted via email with
  further certification questions
  lisacampbelldnp_at_gmail.com

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Thank you!

• Thank you for attending todays presentation.
• For additional information
• Study Guide
• Resource Handout
• Please consider taking the certification exam!