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CPC Assessment Beta Research Study Published in Journal of Nursing Regulation
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The NBCRNA’s CPC Assessment (CPCA) Beta Research Study was published this month in the
Journal of Nursing Regulation
. Lau
nched in September 2018, the research study included 1,500 randomly selected CRNAs who volunteered to take the 150-question, four-hour exam in one of the six assigned testing conditions, including with and without resources, and at a testing center or live, remote proctoring. This innovative research study on the computer-based CPCA, evaluated testing performance in six varied testing environments. The study provided the data necessary to establish both the testing condition and score standard for the assessment requirement of the NBCRNA’s CPC Program. Although testing conditions varied, the percentage of study participants that met the performance standard was 95%, indicating preparedness and mastery of the knowledge necessary for practice in nurse anesthesia.
Read the full article as it appeared in the
JNR
here
.
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Continued Professional Certification (CPC) Fee Updates
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Timing alignment: You asked, we listened. For many years, the “recertification fee” was paid every two years (for the upcoming two years of your certification), and this continued the same under the CPC Program when it launched in 2016. Now, in response to CRNA requests and to simplify the timing, instead of paying your CPC fee every two years, the fee structure will change to be every
four
years and will coincide with the timing
of your every-four-year CPC Compliance Application (formerly “Recertification Application”).
Starting in 2020, as we continue with the four-year payment cycle, the CPC fee will be $250 every
four
years and there will no longer be a fee associated with the 2-year Check-in application.
The 2-year Check-in will continue, as it serves several essential functions, but there will no longer be a fee associated with it. Overall, t
his amounts to just 17 cents a day to maintain your valuable CRNA credential.
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To learn more about what the CPC fee supports,
click here
.
To view your personalized CPC Program plan, visit the
CPC Timeline Calculator
,
or click below to access the many resources in the CPC Program Toolkit!
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Status Reminder and Update
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The move to the Continued Professional Certification (CPC) Program in 2016 ensures that those who hold the CRNA credential are committed to continuous learning, meet the criteria to maintain their credential, and are currently certified. Adherence to the established standards for certification continues to validate to the public, as well as the health care community, that the CRNA credential is a gold standard of anesthesia care. Therefore, to use the CRNA credential, individuals must be
currently
certified, maintaining CPC compliance.
NBCRNA's accreditors (NCCA, ABSNC
*
) have already established that certification is time limited. So what is the change for the NBCRNA? The mindset of the CPC Program is that Initial Certification continues over time as long as the requirements to hold the credential are met. So, if CPC requirements are not maintained, the CRNA's Initial Certification would be affected and they would not be currently certified and would not be eligible to use the CRNA credential.
Therefore, all credential statuses going forward from 1/1/2020 will relate to the Initial Certification. Two status categories are being added to help more fully communicate a nurse anesthetist's current certification status to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and to other stakeholders. All statuses are shown below:
- Currently Certified- Full (The vast majority of all CRNAs will be in this category)
- Currently Certified- Conditional
- Not Currently Certified - Suspended*
- Not Currently Certified - Revoked
- NEW - Not Currently Certified - Retired
- NEW - Not Currently Certified - Expired/Not currently CPC compliant
CRNAs play a critical role in health care and ensuring a high standard of patient care. The NBCRNA wants all CRNAs to continue their credential as long as they desire, whether that be as a clinician, educator, administrator or researcher, and enjoy the rights and privileges that come with the valuable CRNA credential.
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*National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC).
*A status of Not Currently Certified – Suspended will be, by default, moved to a status of Not Currently Certified – Expired in cases where suspension is not resolved before the individual’s current certification cycle ends. In such cases of involuntary expiration, the nurse anesthetist will be eligible to apply for CPC compliance and reinstatement of certification only after the condition that was the basis for the suspension has been resolved.
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Certification Status FAQs
Q
:
Is my certification lifelong or time-limited?
A:
NBCRNA’s national accreditors (NCCA and ABSNC*) and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) do not accept the concept of “once certified, always certified,” but rather recognize certification as being time-limited. The NBCRNA must comply with the requirements set forth by its accreditors. Therefore, beginning 1/1/2020, NBCRNA certification will be time-limited. The NBCRNA is dedicated to protecting the CRNA credential and failing to comply with these regulatory authorities would threaten the value, validity and recognition of the credential in all 50 states and by all 52 boards of nursing.
*
National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification, Inc. (ABSNC)
Q:
If I retire, can I still say I’m a CRNA?
A:
If you choose to retire, you can still proudly indicate that you
were
a CRNA or nurse anesthetist. However, at the time that one becomes no longer
currently certified
, they can no longer use the “CRNA” acronym. There is no status of "CRNA-Retired."
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Not Quite Ready to Retire from Your Clinical Role, But...?
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Not quite ready to retire from clinical practice, but want to change your role, pace or setting? There are several ways to remain a CRNA!
If you are not quite ready to retire, but want to change your role or setting and/or continue to use the CRNA credential, there are several ways to continue your work in a role related to nurse anesthesia, and continue to remain up-to-date with continuing education (Class A) and professional activities (Class B), Core Modules and the CPC Assessment.
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Many Ways to Remain a CRNA
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Although you must remain in “active practice,” that can take several forms and be in any one of four areas:
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- Clinician
- Educator
- Researcher
- Administrator
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New Incoming NBCRNA Board President
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Terry Wicks, DNP, CRNA, MHS, began his term as President of the NBCRNA Board of Directors following the September 28, 2019 Board meeting. Dr. Wicks is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of North Carolina Greensboro and continues to work at Catawba Valley Medical Center as a clinical nurse anesthetist. Congratulations and welcome, Dr. Wicks!
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NBCRNA Visiting Research Fellow (VRF) Announced
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NBCRNA welcomes the inaugural Visiting Research Fellow (VRF), Nicole Hymel, DNP, CRNA, MSN, APRN, to the Evaluation and Research Advisory Committee (ERAC). Dr. Hymel currently works as a Staff CRNA at Saint Tammany Parish Hospital and has a passion for continuing education and research in the nurse anesthesia field. Dr. Hymel will begin her term on December 6, 2019, and it will run through August 2021. More information on the VRF and other NBCRNA volunteer opportunities can be found on the
Get Involved!
volunteer page
To keep you updated on the
NBCRNA Evaluation and Research Advisory Committee (ERAC), and the research work in support of the CRNA credential, the innaugural
NBCRNA Research Newsletter
was launched in late-summer. In case you missed it,
click here
to read the newsletter and stay tuned for the Fall edition. Learn more about NBCRNA's focus on research, new committees, and upcoming and recent studies,
here
.
Coming Soon
- Video on Logic Models and how NBCRNA is using logic models to inform our research effort.
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New Database Platform to Bring Easier Navigation and More Data to CRNAs
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To ensure the most efficient and effective data management of the more than 53,000 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), the NBCRNA will be transitioning to a new database platform, Certelligence. While many things will seem familiar in the new system, and you will continue to access all necessary functions via your portal just like you have in the past, by December 2019, CRNAs can expect a more personalized and enhanced user experience when you log in to your NBCRNA account.
The new platform leverages emerging technologies and integrations to help the NBCRNA better serve all CRNAs when they interact with their certification programs. Watch for more information in December.
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Throughout the year, the NBCRNA works with all 52 state boards of nursing and other external organizations throughout health care for credentialing-related initiatives to help protect and further the CRNA credential. Click below to learn more about the value of your credential and why it matters.
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Strong Response to CPCA Pilot - More Than 3,000 Volunteers
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In August 2019, the NBCRNA sent a call for participants for a pilot administration of the Continued Professional Certification Assessment (CPCA). The NBCRNA received an overwhelming response, with more than 3,000 interested volunteers. Thank you to all who completed the survey!
The final participants were selected on a first-come, first-serve basis and are representative of the CRNA population (using key demographic characteristics).
Those accepted were notified on October 14, 2019, and the pilot testing period will start and end in February 2020
.
Click below to learn more about the CPCA pilot and additional ways to
Volunteer with NBCRNA
and get involved in your profession!
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Did You Give Your Input?Final Days to Participate in NSPM PPA Survey
Deadline: October 18
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The NBCRNA is conducting a nationwide study-- a Professional Practice Analysis (PPA) Survey --of Nonsurgical Pain Management (NSPM) for CRNA practice to update the content outline for the 2021 NSPM subspecialty certification exam. You do not need to be NSPM-certified to participate. All who complete the survey by the
October 18 deadline
are entered in a drawing to win one of two $100 Amazon gift cards and can also
claim one Class B credit.
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NSPM Exam Application
DEADLINE: October 18
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If your application is in progress, it must be completed by
October 18
,
If you are interested in becoming NSPM certified but haven't started an application yet, the next application window will be April 13-May15, 2020..
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Earn Credit with CPCA Practice
Prepare for the CPC Assessment (CPCA) with CPCA Practice -
an interactive, online assessment designed to both promote lifelong learning while earning Class A credit. A second version is now also available - take both to earn up to four Class A credits!
View the
CPC Practice
page for more information.
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Take a Free Test Drive!
Become familiar with the CPC Assessment format and experience by taking a "test drive" with the free Quick20! Use your computer or any smart device to explore the assessment questions - try one question, or try them all!
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Skip the reading. Watch videos instead. For example, get a basic overview of the CPC Program in just three minutes - watch the
3-Minute Guide to the CPC Program
.
Find more CPC videos on our
NBCRNA YouTube channel
.
Subscribe to the channel and be alerted when new videos are posted.
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Y
Get Your Personalized
CPC Schedule
With the
CPC Timeline Calculator
,
you can get your personalized display of your next steps in the CPC Program with just two clicks of the mouse. Print it out for easy reference.
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Prefer CPC news on the go?
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Click to hear the Class B Credit podcast on-the-go!
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Chicago, Illinois 60631
Toll Free: (855) 285-4658
Direct: (708) 667-0002
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