August Electronic Bulletin

August 2012

Sent to those committed to excellence!

IN THIS E-NEWS BULLETIN, PLEASE FIND THE FOLLOWING SHORT NEW BRIEFS FROM THE NNCC: 

CNN-NP EXAM NOW AVAILABLE VIA COMPUTER BASED TESTING (CBT)

The CNN-NP Test Committee has worked very hard to get enough test items written to be able to provide this exam via the CBT process.  Their hard work has paid off, and the CNN-NP exam is now available as a CBT.  At this time several advance practice nurses have taken and passed the CNN-NP exam via CBT.  Please check the NNCC website for details.

The addition of CBT creates a need to increase the application fees to take this exam.  Effective with all CNN-NP exams administered beginning October 1, 2012, the certification exam fee for the CNN-NP exam will increase to $375, and the retake fee will increase to $250.  For ANNA members the exam fee will be $350, and the single retake fee will increase to $250

NEW CCHT CAREER MOBILITY SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE NOW

The CCHT Career Mobility Scholarship provides funding for continuing education and development or support of a program to improve patient outcomes in the health science field.  This $2000 scholarship will enable a CCHT-certified dialysis technician to enhance his/her knowledge and better contribute to the nephrology community.  The application form and instructions are available on the Scholarships/Grants page of the NNCC website found at www.nncc-exam.org

NOTE:   This year’s application materials must be postmarked by November 30, 2012.  Fax copies of documents are NOT accepted.

CNN, CDN and CNN-NP EMERITUS STATUS AVAILABLE

Nurses who have maintained an active credential of CNN, CDN or CNN-NP, are over 50 years of age and who have retired from active practice may apply for emeritus status.  To apply for the retired credential the certificant must complete the application for Emeritus Status (available on the NNCC website at www.nncc-exam.org and found in the applicable full Recertification Application Booklet), and submit a one-time fee.  If approved, the certificant may use the emeritus credential at nephrology nursing functions to acknowledge a previous active credential and the accomplishments it signifies.  If the certificant chooses to return to active practice and wishes to again hold the active credential, he/she must meet current eligibility criteria and certify by examination.

NEW NEPHROLOGY NURSING ADVOCACY AWARD AVAILABLE SOON

The NNCC has approved an annual award for one organization/facility/department/unit to receive upon demonstration that the winner values certification as the way to promote patient safety and improve the quality of care provided to nephrology patients.  The award will consist of a wall plaque, a $250 gift card, a press release and recognition on the NNCC website and at the NNCC exhibit at professional nephrology events.  Please watch for details of this award to be posted on the NNCC website soon.

NNCC NOW ON FACEBOOK!!

The Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission just joined Facebook, and we'd love to connect with you.  "Like" us on Facebook to keep up with certification and exam information, NNCC and industry news, and much more.  It's also a great place to share your stories, network with fans from across the country, and get in contact with NNCC directly.

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CHANGES IN FEES, LENGTH OF TIME THAT APPLICATIONS ARE VALID

With the CMS mandate for dialysis technicians to obtain national certification, the number of people taking certification exams via computer-based testing (CBT) has increased tremendously.  In 2009, NNCC’s testing partner, the Center for Nursing Education and Testing (C-NET) administered 21,773 CCHT exams alone.  The volume of CBT has highlighted some issues specific to this method of testing.  To provide CBT in local settings, C-NET partners with a company named PSI.  C-NET is now regularly seeing a number of “no-show” applicants for CBT, and PSI charges C-NET a substantial fee for each no-show.

Frequently, applicants wait until the very last minute to apply for certification or recertification.  C-NET and NNCC have agreed to provide an expedited application review service for these applicants.  The fee for the expedited review service is $50 and is in effect now.  Problems also arise when people apply to take an exam but allow long periods of time to elapse before actually taking the exam or cancelling the application.  As of May 1, 2012, all exam applications are considered valid for 90 days following issuance of the exam permit by CNET.  If the applicant does not test during this time, either because an exam date was not scheduled or the applicant did not show for a scheduled test administration, a special one-time permit extension, good for 90 additional days, will be allowed if the applicant still meets eligibility requirements for the test.  A Special Permit Extension Fee of $100 will be charged to these applicants.  If the applicant still doesn’t test within the additional 90 day time period, he/she must complete a new application and begin the process over again.

 NEW EXAMS COMING – ADVANCED CCHT, LPN/LVN CERTIFICATION EXAMS

As noted previously, the Commission carefully reviewed recent Practice Analysis and Role Delineation Surveys for technicians and LPN/LVNs and it was determined that there are significant differences in practice between entry level technicians and those who have been working for five or more years.  It was also noted that there are definite differences in practice between all technicians and LPN/LVN’s working in dialysis facilities.  Given this information, the Commission members have elected to increase the number of certification exams offered as described below.  It is anticipated that these exams will be available mid-October, 2012.  Watch the website for more information and application materials.  The fees for the exams will be as follows:

• The initial certification fee for CCHT-A and CD-LPN/CD-LVN will be $250.
• The fee for recertification via CEUs for the CCHT-A and CD-LPN/CD-LVN will be $150.

Development of Advanced CCHT Certification Exam

The credential for the advanced dialysis technician will be CCHT-A, and will denote practice and experience beyond the minimum needed to obtain the CCHT.  Criteria for this certification exam include the following:

• 5 years of continuous employment and a minimum of 5000 hours as a clinical hemodialysis technician,
• 30 contact hours of continuing education relevant to the practice of a hemodialysis technician, within the previous three years,
• Current national certification as a CCHT, CHT or CCNT.

NOTE:  It is recommended but not required that contact hours be obtained from an approved provider.

Development of Certification Exam for the Dialysis LVN/LPN

The credential for the certified dialysis LPN/LVN will be CD-LPN and CD-LVN.  The eligibility criteria for this exam include:

• 2 years and 2000 hours as an LPN/LVN working with patients who require or may require dialysis within the previous 2 years,
• 15 contact hours of continuing education relevant to the care of patients who require or may require dialysis, within the previous two years.

NOTE:  It is recommended but not required that contact hours be obtained from an approved provider.

 

CCHT RECERTIFICATION INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW

Think you know all you need to know about the CCHT recertification process? Check out our "Did You Know.." sheet, and make sure you do. 

Recertification by continuing education applications take approximately 6 – 8 weeks for processing. NNCC now has a priority processing option available for an additional fee. Please contact NNCC as soon as possible with any questions regarding priority processing.

ABOUT NNCC

The Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC) exists to establish credentialing mechanisms for improving the quality of care provided to nephrology patients.

The Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission supports the philosophy that there should be a diversity of examinations that will effectively provide the opportunity for certification at various levels of education, experience, and area of practice within nephrology nursing.

For more information, visit www.nncc-exam.org.