Info on the CVNE Level V Exams for Clinical Cardiology Educators
The goal of the American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine's (ABCM) Board
Certification Exam for Educators is to enhance the quality of healthcare delivery by maintaining high Educational Standards for Certifying Cardiovascular Nurse Educators who are responsible for the Education of their Cardiac Nursing staff in a host of
Cardiovascular Arenas, both Non-Acute and Acute Care.
The goal of the ABCM is to initiate a National Standard of Education that will ensure all
Cardiovascular Nurses and Nurse Practitioners are created equally. Through our
National testing of these Professionals, we have found regional areas of deficiency among Clinical Cardiovascular Nursing Staff. By initiating a process of Board Certifying the Cardiovascular Nursing Educators, we can ensure that they will have demonstrated that they all have the same body of knowledge and skills necessary to deliver effective
Cardiovascular Nursing Education Fellowship Programs to their Nursing staff, for both beginning and advanced students.
To accomplish the goal of Board Certifying our Nations Cardiovascular Nursing
Educators, the ABCM is hosting a series of CVNE Educators Courses for
Cardiovascular Nursing Educators only. At these regional CVNE Courses, CVNE
Educators will receive a working copy of the ABCM's Standards of Practice for all
Cardiovascular Arenas, and Curriculum Development Plans necessary to initiate or enhance in-house Cardiovascular Nursing Fellowship training programs.
Each Cardiovascular Nursing Educators attending one of the Cardiovascular Nursing
Educators Courses will have the opportunity to provide input regarding Standards of
Practice and Education strategies to the Board for consideration. The Cardiovascular
Nursing Educators will have the opportunity to sit for the National CVNE Board
Certification Examinations at the conclusion of Course should this be a goal they wish to seek.
There are two Levels of this Exam and CVNE Educators may sit for either level: 1) Non-
Acute Cardiology, and 2) Acute Care Cardiology. The exam is not about how to teach, but rather what to teach Cardiac Nurses, and as such requires the Examinee to have a vast knowledge of Clinical Cardiology.
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Copyright August, 2014 by ABCM; All rights reserved.

Info on the CVNE Level V Exams for Clinical Cardiology Educators
We highly recommend that this group of Educators attend the Clinical Cardiology
Courses we hold for Nurse Practitioners, since their exams are similar.
The CVNE Educator's Level I Exam consists of 200 single best answer type questions.
The CVNE Level I Examination is intended for Non-Acute CVNE Educators teaching beginning Level Cardiac Nurses preparing for or who already work in a Non-Acute area of Cardiology such as Telemetry, Post Acute Care Units, and Chest Pain Center
Nursing staff, and Cardiac Rehab Departments.
The CVNE Level II Examination consists of 150 single best answer type questions. The
CVNE Level II Examination is intended for Cardiovascular Critical Care Educators teaching Acute Care Cardiac Nurses preparing for or who already work in Acute Care
Cardiac Units. To achieve the Acute Care Level, the CVNE will be answering the questions in both levels of the Exam, therefore be qualified to teach at either level.
Is there an oral or clinical component of the examination?
No. T he CVNE Educator's Boards consist of a comprehensive, multiple-choice, written examination. The ABCM determined that it would be logistically difficult to schedule oral or clinical examinations.
How is the Passing Grade for the CVNE Educator's Examination determined?
The ABCM Board members discuss the minimal acceptable knowledge base for a candidate to be competent in each area of cardiology. The standard for passing is
maintained constant between examinations by comparing the scores from similar questions in current and previous examinations.
Scores are adjusted to ensure a common examination standard regardless of the year the examination is taken. Scores are given in each area of cardiology tested in, to provide the examinees with an assessment of their areas of strength and weakness.
Does the ABCM Provide or Endorse Any Courses or Textbooks for Exam
Candidates?
The ABCM does not endorse any specific Cardiovascular Course or textbook.
What is the Question Format Used on the CVNE Educator's Boards?
The question format is multiple choice with single best answers, and some true false questions.
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Copyright August, 2014 by ABCM; All rights reserved.

Info on the CVNE Level V Exams for Clinical Cardiology Educators
How Are CVNE Educator's Board Questions Set?
The ABCM maintains a large bank of cardiology questions that are updated regularly. Board Certified Cardiovascular Nurse Educators are invited to submit questions to the data bank.
Submitted questions are reviewed by the ABCM for scientific accuracy, clarity of meaning, and clinical importance. Submitted questions will be provided to our panel of
CVNE Education experts for approval. Before a question is included in the examination, it is reviewed both by clinicians and by ABCM examination reviewers.
What is the process for CVNE Educator's Recertification?
The requirements for recertification are:
1. maintaining a valid unrestricted nursing license
2. verification of clinical competence – letter from employer essential
3. assessment of clinical competence by local peer group, letter of recommendation
essential
4. 50 CE credit hours obtained over three years in Cardiology and Education
5. recertification application
6. payment of recertification fee with application $150 for three years
Copyright August, 2014 by ABCM; All rights reserved.
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