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

1. “ALL OUT” FOR EXCELLENCECERTIFICATION AND DEGREE COMPLETION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES Quad Council for Public Health Nursing Organizations Educational Webinar April 11, 2012

2. 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

3. SPONSORED BY

4. 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 4

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. Establishing Standards And Credentials Standards may be applied on an individualor 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.

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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-completion-programs/

12. 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/GradStudentsBrochure.pdf

13. 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/financial-aidand, for future Nurse Educators: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/media-relations/FS_Funding.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?

14. National Certifications

15. 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

16. Public health Certification Survey Results Perspectives from ACHNE, APHA-PHN, ASTDN, & ANA members

17. PHN Certification Survey Results • Survey Conducted in March/April, 2012 • Sample: 897 Surveys completed • Membership in sponsoring organizations

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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.

22. 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

23. 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)

24. CertificationADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES

25. 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.

26. Eligibility - ANCC Exams

27. 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.

29. 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.)

30. 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.

31. Professional Development Hours required for Renewal • Must be completed within the 5 years preceding renewal in two of the six professional development categories. • Categories 1–5 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.

32. Categories, Summarized

33. 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@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. • Nurses from your agency can get a substantial discount to attend.

34. 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

36. How do the Tests Compare?CONTENT AREAS

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

38. 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

39. 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.

40. 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.

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

42. Upcoming Workshops ASTDN ACHNE Saturday, June 9th 10:15 -11:15 AM Portland, Oregon Overview of certification process and study tips • Wednesday, May 9th • 12:30 to 4 PM • Austin, TX • Review of study guide and study tips

43. 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@gmail.com

44. Thank you! • Thank you for attending today’s presentation. • For additional information: • Study Guide • Resource Handout Please consider taking the certification exam!