“ALL OUT” FOR EXCELLENCE
CERTIFICATION AND DEGREE
COMPLETION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES
Quad Council for Public Health Nursing Organizations
Educational Webinar
April 11, 2012
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-BC
ASTDN, ACHNE, PHN Section-APHA
Albany, NY
• Christine Vandenhouten, PhD, RN, APHN-BC
ACHNE, PHN Section-APHA
Green Bay, Wisconsin
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SPONSORED BY
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ACHNE Education Committee Members
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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
1. PHN Practice Standards and Credentialing
2. Education
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PHN Ready Program – continuing education
RN-to-BSN and Masters Programs
3. National Certifications
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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:
1. List at least three ways PHNs are accountable for their practice
2. Describe continuing education opportunities through the Public
Health Nurse Ready Program
3. Locate resources for RN-to-BSN and Masters degree completion
on the web
4. Describe opportunities for PHNs to attain certification through
the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the National
Board of Public Health Examiners
5. 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/Impr
int_Jan09_Feat_Leonard.pdf
• To find a BSN completion program, go to:
http://www.rntobsnprograms.com/rn-to-bsncompletion-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/Grad
StudentsBrochure.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/financial-aid and,
for future Nurse Educators:
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/mediarelations/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?
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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
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33%
30%
18%
2%
Administrative
Staff Nurse
Faculty
Educator
• Education
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16%
36%
30%
16%
ADN
BSN
Masters prepared (21% MSN; 6% MPH; 3% MS)
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
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52%
52%
41%
40%
36%
16%
Lack of knowledge of certification opportunities
Unaware of eligibility criteria
Cost
Not valued/rewarded by employer
Time to Prepare
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
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58%
55%
51%
50%
49%
44%
42%
32%
26%
25%
14%
12%
10%
Enhanced Professional Credibility
Evidence of Professional Commitment
Personal Satisfaction
Feeling of Personal Accomplishment
Validates Specialized Knowledge
Professional Challenge
Indicates Higher Level of Clinical Competence
Increased Marketability
Recognition from Peers
Recognition from other Healthcare Professionals
Required by Employer
Increased Consumer Confidence
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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CERTIFICATION
ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES
Advantages/Pluses
Barriers/Minuses
Shows personal accountability for
your practice
Not always recognized by
employers as important
Validates competence Professional distinction lends
credibility and prestige
May not garner additional rewards
(pay, rank) for certification
Employers and unions sometimes
reimburse exam fees
Can be expensive
• $200-350 for APHN-BC exam
• $400-550 for CPH exam
• Renewals
Encourages/shows lifetime learning
Personal satisfaction
PHNs with MPH will need to decide: Which exam? Or both?
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AMERICAN NURSES
CREDENTIALING CENTER (ANCC)
• Different categories have been provided for PHNs
1. Public Health Nurse, Advanced (APHN-BC-Advanced Public
Health Nurse-Board Certified). Currently available.
2. Clinical Nurse Specialist in Public/Community Health (PHCNSBC) – Exam has been retired/can be renewed if professional
development and practice hours requirements are met. No
testing option for renewal.
3. 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 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.
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CATEGORIES, SUMMARIZED
Category
Requirement
1
Continuing Education Hours - 75
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Academic Credits - 5 Semester or 6 Quarter
3
Educational Presentations – 5
4
Publication or Research – different requirements for
different types of publications, research.
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Preceptor – 120 hours
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Professional Service – 2 or more years
For more detail, see: Pages 5 through 11 at
http://www.nursecredentialing.org/RenewalApplicationForm.aspx
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MATERIALS AND RESOURCES
AVAILABLE FROM ANCC
• Sample test questions
• Posters, brochures to promote certification
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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”
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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
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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.
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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
ANCC
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Foundations of advance PHN
practice
Human development
Epidemiology and biostatistics
Evaluation and research
Assessment of public and
community health
Strategies to improve public and
community health
Health promotion, disease
prevention and risk reduction
Education for populations and
communities
Health systems, organizations and
networks
Leadership
See:
http://www.nursecredentialing.org/Docu
ments/Certification/TestContentOutlines/P
ublicHealthNursingAdvancedTCO.aspx
NBPHE
5 Core Areas:
•Biostatistics
•Environmental health services
•Epidemiology
•Health policy and management
•Social and behavioral sciences
Cross-Cutting Areas:
•Communication and informatics
•Diversity and culture
•Leadership
•Public health biology
•Professionalism
•Programs planning
•Systems thinking
See: http://www.nbphe.org/Examinfo.cfm
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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/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
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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
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Wednesday, May 9th
12:30 to 4 PM
Austin, TX
Review of study guide
and study tips
ACHNE
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Saturday, June 9th
10:15 -11:15 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@gmail.com
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THANK YOU!
• Thank you for attending today’s presentation.
• For additional information:
• Study Guide
• Resource Handout
Please consider taking the certification exam!
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