CNA Certification
Resources
Bulletins
CERTIFICATION NEWS - Summer 1997
Number Two
Committed
to Nursing Excellence
Content
The history of CNA’s Certification
Program
Recertification Q & A
Reciprocity moves forward
Certification and university credits
1997 Exam Results
Client Satisfaction Survey
Dates to Remember
Recertification fees lowered!!!
Gerontological nursing joins CNA
The history of CNA’s Certification Program
In June 1980, two nurses introduced a resolution at CNA’s biennial convention that directed CNA to “study the feasibility of developing examinations for certification in major nursing specialties.”
Eleven years later, in January of 1991, CNA’s Certification Program certified its first group of nurses in neuroscience nursing. In 1997, the Certification Program has nine specialty designations and anticipates there will be more than 5,600 certified nurses by the end of the year. By the year 2000, it is expected there will be more than 11 specialties with an estimated 15,000 certified nurses.
CNA defines certification as a voluntary and periodic process that confirms that a
registered nurse has demonstrated competence in a nursing specialty
by having met predetermined standards of that specialty.
In addition to contributing to the development of nursing as a science, certification has a threefold purpose:
- to promote excellence in nursing care for the people of Canada through the establishment of national standards of practice in nursing specialty areas;
- to provide an opportunity for practitioners to confirm their competence in a specialty; and,
- to identify, through a recognized credential, those nurses meeting the national standards of their specialty.
After the assembly approved the resolution, CNA’s Board of Directors ap-proved a motion to establish an ad hoc committee on credentialing.
The committee developed a policy on credentialing in nursing and recommended that CNA promote the development of a certification program in nursing specialties. That document was adopted by the board in 1982 and a project coordinator was hired in 1983.
Between 1982 and 1986, a series of three ad hoc committees on certification, in consultation with member associations, national nursing groups, and other associations involved in developing certification mechanisms, studied policy issues underlying a certification program. A three-phase certification program was approved by the board in October 1986.
One reason for the Certification Program’s success is its uniformity. The only certification program for nurses in Canada, there is little confusion on the part of employers or nurses as to what certification means in Canada.
In the United States, on the other hand, a special board (the American Board of Nursing Specialties) was established in 1991 – ironically the same year CNA certified its first nurses – to standardize criteria for certification. The U.S. has approximately 58 specialty nursing organizations and certification programs.
As health care becomes more specialized, so too will nursing practice. Care by well-qualified, specialty-trained nurses will continue to become increasingly important, as will the education and practice qualifications of the individual nurse.
And as specialization in nursing develops, CNA’s Certification Program will evolve to reflect these developments.
CNA certification specialties and initials
- Emergency Nurse Certified (Canada) ENC(C)
- Certified in Nephrology (Canada) CNeph(C)
- Certified in Neuroscience Nursing (Canada) CNN(C)
- Certified in Occupational Health Nursing (Canada) COHN(C)
- Certified Nurse in Critical Care (Canada) CNCC(C)
- Certified in Perioperative Nursing (Canada) CPN(C)
- Certified in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing (Canada) CPMHN(C)
- Certified in Oncology Nursing (Canada) CON(C)
It is apparent from the results of various surveys and other communication we’ve had with nurses that certified nurses have a lot of questions about recertification. This column, a regular feature in Certification News, will answer some of these queries. If you have a question, send it to CNA (see contact information on page 4).
| Q | What is the difference between formal education and professional participation for continuing education (C. E.)? |
| A | One of the criteria for recertification is the accumulation of 100 hours of continuing education activities ( one hour of activity equals one hour of C. E.) in the nursing specialty during the five-year certification term or rewriting the nursing certification exam. CNA allows flexibility in earning C. E. hours. To have any activity count toward recertification, however, each activity must:
Formal Education
Professional Participation
Activities in this category include:
CNA will send you the necessary forms to keep track and list C. E. activities. While it is not necessary to use these forms, you must be able to provide CNA with an accurate record of your C. E. activities. Keep all official documents confirming attendance at listed C. E. activities as you may be asked to send them to CNA for clarification or for a random audit. Remember, all C. E. activities must fall under one of the two categories to count toward recertification. |
CNA anticipates soon introducing its first reciprocity agreement for certification with the United States, providing the comparative study that is currently being finalized concludes that the programs meet the established equivalence criteria.
As a result of this reciprocity agreement, occupational health nurses certified by the American Board for Occupational Health Nurses, Inc. (ABOHN), who apply to the CNA Certification Program would be exempt from writing the CNA Certification exam in occupational health nursing and the requirement of holding current registration/licensure in Canada as a registered nurse. However, ABOHN certified nurses would be required to show “proof of registration/licensure in the U.S.”
This does not mean an American nurse can practise as a registered nurse in Canada without first meeting the provincial registration/licensure requirements. Reciprocity in this situation is the recognition of knowledge and skills in the specialty area of occupational health nursing.
This specific issue of reciprocity stems from the transfer of the certification program from the Canadian Council of Occupational Health Nurses (CCOHN) to the CNA Certification Program in 1991. During negotiations, CCOHN requested that CNA maintain a reciprocity agreement with ABOHN established in 1984.
Though CNA certification was not previously available to nurses certified through ABOHN or any registered nurse certified in another country, ABOHN has been exempting Canadian nurses from taking the U.S. certification examination.
Results from a 1996 survey on the issue pointed to establishing a reciprocity agreement between CNA and ABOHN for a trial period of three years. CNA’s Board of Directors approved the concept of a temporary agreement at its November 1996 meeting.
Certification and university credits
Many diploma-prepared registered nurses are interested in having their certification credential count as credit(s) toward a baccalaureate degree in nursing.
CNA and the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN), sent a survey earlier this year to nurses who were diploma prepared and who had earned the CNA certification credential.
The objective was to determine how many certified nurses had made attempts to obtain credit for certification toward a baccalaureate degree. Nurses from all existing specialties responded to the survey.
Of the 30 per cent who responded, five per cent had previously requested university credits. Some were successful, others were not. A large number, 70 per cent, indicated they would be interested in pursuing a degree in nursing if credit was approved.
Information from the survey will be used by an advisory committee in preparing recommendations for the executive directors of CNA and CASN later this summer.
Recommendations will highlight the need to provide information about the CNA Certification Program to all universities across Canada, and to establish criteria for determining the number of credits that could be given for the CNA certification credential.
The committee includes:
Gail Tomblin Murphy, School of Nursing, Dalhousie University;
Andrea Baumann, Health Science Faculty (Nsg), McMaster University;
Penny Ericson, Faculty of Nursing, University of New Brunswick;
Hélène Sabourin, Manager, CNA Certification Program; and,
Béatrice Mullington, Nursing Policy Consultant, CNA.
CNA would like to thank all nurses who responded to the survey. We will keep you informed as the project moves forward.
Of the 1,576 nurses who wrote certification exams this past April, 1,401 or 89 per cent were successful. Nurses wrote in 70 writing centres across Canada.
The total number of certified nurses by specialty to date is:
 |
Critical
Care Emergency Nephrology Neuroscience Occupational Health Perioperative Psychiatric/Mental Health |
572 |
A total of 5,262 nurses have been certified through the CNA Certification Program.
During the April exams of this year, a client satisfaction survey was distributed to all nurses. The return rate was 72 per cent (1,134 nurses out of 1,576) and included feedback from members of all specialties.
The purpose of the survey was to use the responses to evaluate the Certification Program with the aim to improve the services provided.
In the category of questions related to the application process and material, 76 per cent of the respondents rated the process as being good to excellent.
Though some problems were identified with writing centres, responses to the questions relating to the exam process and administration were mostly positive. The overall response rate (80%) was good to excellent. The writing centre problems are being investigated to minimize any future difficulties.
The section of the survey dealing with the examination itself included questions on the clarity of the questions; the overall difficulty of the exam; the number of questions; and, the time allowed for the exam. Additional questions asked if the exam assessed the most important dimensions required of a competent nurse practising in the specialty area. Over 72 per cent of those who responded were affirmative.
Another question asked if the exam included situations that were “typical” of those encountered by nurses practising in the specialty area. More than 76 per cent of respondents said that the exams did include typical situations.
One concern regarding the examinations was the length. Too many questions, specifically for the psychiatric/mental health and nephrology exams, was a common response. Comments regarding exam lengths have been included in a report prepared for the exam committee. Recommendations for future exams will be formulated based on these comments.
Many nurses mentioned the benefit of sharing examples of how certification has made a difference to the professional lives of nurses. If enough personal quotes are received on this topic, a new section could be included in Certification News. If you would be interested in sharing such information, please send us your remarks.
CNA thanks all those who took the time to answer our survey. The feedback has been, and will continue to be, used to make improvements in the program.
Help spread the word about the benefits of certification by telling colleagues about the upcoming application deadlines and exam dates.
First oncology examination date:
Saturday, September 27, 1997 (Deadline to apply has passed/over 450 applications
received)
Application deadline for all eight
specialty examinations:
Friday, November 21, 1997
Next examination date for all
specialties:
Saturday, April 4, 1998
Ontario Occupational Health Nurses
Association 26th Annual Conference,
“Share the Magic”
September 29 to October 3, 1997
London Convention Centre,
London, Ontario.
For information and registration contact: Francine Cucan, OOHNA,
Suite 605, 302 The East Mall,
Etobicoke, ON M9B 6C7
or call (416) 239-6462;
fax (416) 239-5462
Canadian Association of Nurses in
Oncology 9th Annual Conference,
“Embracing Diversity”
November 2 to 5, 1997
Sheraton Centre, Toronto, Ontario
For more information contact CANO,
111 Peter St.,
Toronto, ON M5V 2H1
or call (416) 596-6565;
fax (416) 596-1808
Canadian Association of Critical Care
Nurses 21st Annual Conference,
“Dynamics 97, Make a Difference: Map Your Future”
Royal York Hotel, Toronto, Ontario
September 17 to 20, 1997
For more information contact CACCN,
P.O. Box 22006,
London, ON N6C 5Y3
or call (519) 649-5284;
fax (519) 668-2499
Please feel free to submit items for this section, but be sure to include a contact name and phone number. The next issue of Certification News will be published in the fall 1997. Please submit items by September 15, 1997 to the attention of Certification News.
Recertification fees lowered!!!
Nurses wanting to recertify by continuing education (C.E.) will pay $75 less in 1998.
Instead of paying the entire initial certification fee again at the time of recertification, nurses wanting to recertify by C.E. will enjoy a fee $75 lower. Those who choose to recertify by exam, however, will be required to pay the full fee again.
Gerontological nursing joins CNA
CNA’s Certification Program has a new specialty designation for gerontological nursing. In 1995, there were approximately 24,683 gerontological nurses working in Canada. The first exam will be administered in 1999, and an application guide will be available in the summer of 1998.
