1 PHN Certification: Strategies for Preparation and Overcoming the Challenges ACHNE Education Committee June 2012 Barbara B. Little, DNP, MPH, RN APHN-BC Florida Statue University Christine Vandenhouten, PhD, RN, APHN-BC University Wisconsin, Green Bay Crystal DeVance-Wilson, MSN, MBA, PHCNS-BC University of Maryland, Shady Grove
In collaboration with 2
Agenda 1. Overview of PHN Certification 2. Certifying Entities: ANCC and NBPHE 3. Exam Preparation Tips Materials and Resources for studying Review Courses for Students 4. Renewal Requirements 3
Learning Objectives 1. Identify pathways to PHN Certification 2. Analyze benefits and challenges of APHN certification 3. Discuss preparation strategies and educational resources 4
Your Interest How many are certified? Plan to certify in the next year? Plan to recertify in the next few years? Prepare students for certifications? 5
Public Health Nursing Certification.. Ensures adherence to core professional standards and principles; Preserves professional competency; and Assures quality care delivery to individuals, families communities and populations 6
State of PHN Certification History of certifications Community Health Nursing (RN-BC) Retired No BSN certification option Community/Public Health Nursing CNS Retired Current trends Decreasing numbers of PHNs Enumeration of PHN workforce ( University of Michigan Center of Excellence in Public Health Workforce Studies (CEPHS) Healthcare reform and practice models Educational trends Advanced PHN Current exam Slated to retire 2013 7
Perspectives from Field Crystal DeVance-Wilson, MSN, MBA, PHCNS-BC University of Maryland, Shady Grove 8
PHN Certification Survey Results Respondent Characteristics N=897 Affiliation Setting NONE ANA ASTDN APHA-PHN ACHNE 45% 25% 7% 30% 18% 0 50 Role Other Academic Health Department 17% 17% 65% 0 20 40 60 80 Education Educator 2% Doctorate 16% Faculty 18% Masters 30% Staff Nurse 30% BSN 36% Administrator 33% AD 16% 0 10 20 30 40 0 10 20 30 40 9
PHN Certification Survey Results Certification Status Never Certified Current Certification Interested in Certification 10
PHN Certification Survey Results Barriers to Certification No Difference 55% Did not Help 32% Helped When Job Seeking 12% Not Valued by Employer No Incentive by Employer Not Required by Employer 40% 75% 90% Professional Barriers Employer Barriers Personal Barriers Prep Time 36% Cost 41% Awareness of Certification 52% Awareness of Eligibility Criteria 79% 0 50 100 11
PHN Certification Survey Results Motivators to Becoming Certified Increased Salary Employer Requirement Increased Marketability 10% 14% 32% Professional Recognition Peer Recognition Professional Challenge Personal Accomplishment Personal Satisfaction Consumer Confidence Professional Competence Validation of Knowledge Professional Commitment Professional Credibility 12% 25% 26% 25% 26% 44% 42% 49% 55% 58% 0 20 40 60 80 Financial Incentive Personal Satisfaction Professional Competence 12
Christine Vandenhouten, PhD, RN, APHN-BC University of Wisconsin, Green Bay 13
Certification Organizations National Certifications American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE) Nurses with Graduate Degrees PH Practitioners (including nurses) with Graduate Degrees from a COPH 14
175 MC questions (150 scored) Cost in the range of $270-395 15
Credential Options Advanced Public Health Nursing APHN-BC PHCNS-BC 16
Education Requirements 17
http://www.nbphe.org/ Eligibility Graduate degree (Masters or Doctoral) from a school or program of public health (accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health) Generalist; not specific to PH Nursing An alternative certification for those with a graduate degree in public health Computer-based, MC questions, 4 ½ hours, $300 400 18
How do the Tests Compare? CONTENT AREAS ANCC I. Foundations of advanced PHN practice II. Human development III. Epidemiology and biostatistics IV. Evaluation and research V. Assessment of public/community health VI. Strategies to improve public/community health VII. Health promotion, disease prevention & risk reduction VIII. Education for populations & communities IX. Health systems, organizations & networks X. Leadership See: http://www.nursecredentialing.org/documents/ Certification/TestContentOutlines/PublicHealthN ursingadvancedtco.aspx NBPHE 5 Core Areas: 1. Biostatistics 2. Environmental health services 3. Epidemiology 4. Health policy and management 5. Social and behavioral sciences Cross-Cutting Areas: 1. Communication and informatics 2. Diversity and culture 3. Leadership 4. Public health biology 5. Professionalism 6. Program planning 7. Systems thinking See: http://www.nbphe.org/examinfo.cfm 19
Barbara B. Little, DNP, MPH, RN APHN-BC Florida Statue University, Tallahassee & Sarasota FL 20
Register for the Exam On-line registration Select eligibility option Submit license verification & transcripts Approval can take 6-8 weeks Once letter of approval to test arrives: Schedule test within 90 days Then start studying! Results instant after complete the exam 21
Study Tips Read all materials on the website very carefully Review the content outline Develop a study plan Determine where to spend time 1 topic/session 1 ½ hours Find a Study Buddy even if they are virtual Organize your resources Study Guide A current PHN text, class notes and CE materials Look up online resources Prepare for the process of testtaking Review the test procedures Review Test Taking Strategies (ANCC online course) Download and take the sample test 22
APHN Certification Exam Study Guide Formatted by content outline Not designed to be allinclusive Meant to jog your memory Web- and textbook-based references are included Available on ACHNE & ASTDN Websites 23
www.phnready.org 24
Materials and Resources Exam Content Outline Recommended Reading List Sample test questions Review Seminar Available to schools/agencies School/agency provides space and audio-visual needs Posters & brochures to promote certification PDFs on website Hard copies are available on request 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@ana.org 25
CPH Exam Resources Online resources available: http://www.nbphe.org/study.cfm ASPH Study Guide: http://www.asph.org/cphstudyguide/ Jones and Bartlett Study Guide: www.jblearning.com/catalog/9780763779269/ Webinars on NBPHE website: http://www.nbphe.org/webinar.cfm Practice Exam Questions can be found at http://www.nbphe.org/faqs.cfm#sampleqs 26
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Preferred Preparation Methods PHN Certification Survey Results N = 813 Content Reviews (32-62%) Certification options (58%) 62% Four 1-hour webinars 32% One 4-hour webinar One hour webinar Study Tips & Resources (57%) One hour webinar Other (7%) Regional review (face to face) One on One trainings Self-paced, self study modules online Study guide (paper) 28
Review Course for Students MSN in PHN online program 1 day, 6 hour workshop on campus Last semester, voluntary Student and faculty presented each section Materials Study guide, textbooks, websites, ppt presentations 29
I II Exam Content Outline # items % of items Presenter Study Guide Page # Foundations of Advanced Public/Community Health Nursing and Test Taking Skills 26 17.33% Barbara 4 Theories and Concepts of Human Development 6 4.00% Sarah 22 III Theories and Concepts of Epidemiology and Biostatistics IV Evaluation and Research V Assessment of Public and Community Health VI Strategies to Improve Public and Community Health VI Health Promotion, Disease Prevention, and Risk Reduction I VI Education for Populations and Communities II IX Health Systems, Organizations, and Networks X Leadership Wrap-up Insights from APHN-BC Faculty 15 10.00% Christa 26 8 5.33% Tara 30 16 10.67% Michelle 33 26 17.33% Mary A. 36 15 10.00% Ann 46 12 8.00% Mary 49 19 12.67% Sheri 53 7 4.67% Mary A. 63 Sally Barbara 30
Results 12 attendees (4 faculty & 8 students) Obtained certification 7 students Including 1 non-attendee 1 faculty 2 faculty were already certified 3 students and 1 faculty have not taken the exam 31
Crystal DeVance-Wilson, MSN, MBA, PHCNS-BC University of Maryland, Shady Grove 32
Recertification Process Required every 5 years Submit all paper work 8 weeks prior to expiration of your certification. Renewal Fees $200 ANA Member $280 APHA PHN Section Members $350 Non-members 33
Options for Renewal (with current certification) Option A 1,000 Practice Hours Professional Development OR Option B Exam (if available) 34 http://www.nursecredentialing.org/renewalrequirements.aspx
Requirements for Practice Hours 1,000 practice hours in your certification specialty within the preceding 5 years May be from employment or as a volunteer Faculty can use hours of direct clinical supervision of students Must be in the certification specialty area APN faculty (CNS and NP) must have direct supervision of APN students 35
Professional Development Categories Category Requirement 1 Continuing Education Hours - 75 (or double 150 hours) 2 Academic Credits - 5 Semester or 6 Quarter 3 Educational Presentations 5 4 Publication or Research different requirements for different types of publications, research. 5 Preceptor 120 hours 6 Professional Service 2 or more years appointment on boards, committees, task forces For more detail, see: Pages 5 through 11 at http://www.nursecredentialing.org/renewalapplicationform.aspx 36
Online Tacking System for Contact Hours 37
Advocacy Opportunities AACN Navigating instructions & eligibility requirements State Governments Some Require State Certification rather than ANCC Health Departments and other Public Health Employers Education on Benefits of Certification Incentives for Certification 38
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, PHCNS, 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 Cheryl Schmidt, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF Christine L. Vandenhouten, PhD, RN, APHN-BC 39 39
Thanks! Now go forth and CERTIFY! 40