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Numerous NTI Events Spotlight Certified
Nurses
Annual Conference Set for May 2002 in
Atlanta, Ga.
Certified critical care nurses who attend AACN�s
National Teaching Institute and Critical Care Exposition May 4 through 9, 2002,
in Atlanta, Ga., will again have a special place to gather, relax and share
their experiences.
The Certification Oasis has been set aside in
the Resource Center area to accommodate the special needs and interests of
certified nurses. In addition to encouraging networking, the Oasis will provide
certified nurses the opportunity to review certification resources and discuss
certification issues with AACN Certification Corporation representatives,
including national board members.
The lounge, sponsored by Indianapolis-based
Clarian Health, will be available to certified adult-, pediatric- and adult
critical care nurses (CCRNs), clinical nurse specialists (CCNSs) who are
certified in acute and critical care, and acute care nurse practitioners (ACNPs).
Of course, the NTI has plenty of other
activities and educational sessions that are geared specifically to certified
nurses.
Always popular is the annual Certification
Luncheon, where CCRNs, CCNSs and ACNPs come together to celebrate their
achievements in an energizing and inspirational environment. Again this year,
Atrium Medical Corporation is sponsoring the special memento mugs that will be
given out at the luncheon.
The fee to attend this Monday luncheon is $25.
Because seating is limited at this ticketed event, nurses who plan to attend are
encouraged to make their reservations as early as possible.
In addition to concurrent sessions during the
NTI, two preconference sessions are offered to assist participants in preparing
for CCRN and CCNS certification exams.
The two-day Adult CCRN Review Course will be
facilitated by Barbara Leeper, RN, MN, CCRN. Expert presenters will discuss
various areas of the exam content.
A one-day CCNS Exam Preparation preconference on
Sunday will be facilitated by Pat Moloney-Harmon, RN, MS. Experts will present
an overview of information relevant to the test content outline.
�The Synergy Model: A Framework to Optimize
Patient Outcomes� is the title of a special session that will be presented by
Roberta Kaplow, RN, PhD, CCNS. The Synergy Model was adopted in 1995 by AACN
Certification Corporation as the framework of the certification program.
For more information about NTI 2002 or to
register, call (800) 899-2226 or visit the AACN Web site at
http://www.aacn.org
> nti. The discounted, early-bird deadline to
register is March 26, 2002.
Take the CCRN or CCNS Exam at NTI
March 11 is the deadline to apply to take the
paper-and-pencil version of the CCRN or CCNS certification exam on May 6, 2002,
in Atlanta, Ga.
All three CCRN and CCNS exams�adult, pediatric
and neonatal�will be administered from 2 to 6 p.m. that day, during AACN�s
National Teaching Institute and Critical Care Exposition. The fee is $150 for
the CCRN exam and $250 for the CCNS exam.
Preregistration is required to take these exams.
On-site registration will not be accepted.
Candidates who are also attending the NTI and
who have not yet registered must return their NTI registration along with the
exam application.
Although candidates should come ready to test,
preconference sessions the weekend before the exams may be helpful for
last-minute review. A two-part review course for the adult CCRN exam is
scheduled for May 4 and 5. A full-day CCNS exam preparation course is scheduled
for May 5.
For more information or to obtain application
materials, call (800) 899-2226.
Missouri Nursing Board Recognizes CCNS
Certification for Advanced Practice
Missouri has joined the list of states that now
recognize CCNS certification as meeting the criteria for advanced practice
nursing designation or licensure.
In addition to Missouri, the state boards of
nursing in Alabama, California, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota,
Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and
Wisconsin have either approved the CCNS exam, or listed AACN Certification
Corporation as an approved certification body.
AACN Certification Corporation has contacted the
state boards in all 50 states to request recognition of the CCNS certification
exam for clinical nurse specialists in acute and critical care. Depending on the
wording of specific statutes or rules, each state that recognizes the CNS role
for advanced practice status may have the option to approve the CCNS exam
process.
However, though pressure from managed care
groups, reimbursement issues and the desire to conform to the same practices as
neighboring states seem to be influencing the move toward regulation of advanced
practice, some boards of nursing do not have the statutory authority to
establish or approve an advanced practice category. AACN Certification
Corporation continues to monitor legislation in those states.
All nurses planning to use the CCNS to obtain
advanced practice licensure should check the specific requirements of their
state board of nursing before taking the CCNS exam.
Note: Certification obtained through AACN
Certification Corporation is a voluntary process and is intended to test only
for specialized knowledge. AACN Certification Corporation is not authorized to
define qualifications of any person for nursing practice. The significance of
certification in any jurisdiction is dependent on the statutes in that
jurisdiction, and it is the individual candidate�s responsibility to contact the
appropriate state board of nursing to obtain information pertaining to licensure
requirements.
Article Was an Inspiration
Thank you for the article (�Chart a Course
Toward Successful Certification�) in the December 2001 issue of AACN News. It
was just what I needed to refocus on my path toward CCRN certification.
I have been a critical care nurse for three
years, going directly into critical care after graduation. My certification is
important to me, and I have been studying off and on for a couple of months,
while also working on my BSN.
This article gave me avenues to check out. It
was very encouraging. As I continue on my path toward this goal, I will remember
that, when I finish, I will be proud of myself.
Stephanie Banda, RN
Fort Worth, Texas
Volunteers Sought for CCRN, CCNS Exam
Appeals Panels
AACN Certification Corporation is seeking
volunteers to serve on its adult, pediatric and neonatal CCRN and CCNS Exam
Appeals Panels. Between six and eight volunteers are needed for each.
Appeals Panel appointees, who review and
deliberate exam appeals, work primarily through written and electronic
correspondence and participate in several conference calls that can be taken
from home or work.
To volunteer, complete the application that
appears on page 7 of this issue of AACN News. The deadline is March 1, 2002. The
application is also available online at
http://www.aacn.org >
Membership > Volunteer opportunities.
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