 |
|
|
|
Reminder: Important information regarding the CMS ESRD Conditions for Coverage Waiver and Certification
|
The Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services (CMS) issued blanket waivers regarding the ESRD Conditions for Coverage. According to the CMS Blanket waiver document, this waiver is in effect during the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) COVID-19 National Health Emergency Declaration. This waiver allows dialysis technicians to continue working in an outpatient dialysis facility beyond their 18-month deadline or beyond their certification expiration dates without risk of non-compliance of CMS ESRD Conditions for Coverage guidelines.
The Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC) is a national certification board. NNCC has not waived or extended requirements for examination or recertification. All requirements must be met in accordance with NNCC eligibility criteria. Please be sure that you are meeting NNCC requirements when completing CCHT certification and CCHT recertification applications. All requirements must be met within the timeframe stated in the eligibility criteria. If you have questions regarding your certification or recertification, please contact NNCC for assistance.
|
|
Did You Know?
|
The CCHT and CCHT-A are both national certification credentials. This means the CCHT and CCHT-A are valid anywhere within the US and US territories. Nationally certified dialysis technicians should always be sure they are meeting any state requirements, when applicable, in addition to holding their national CCHT or CCHT-A certification credential. In fact, all credentials issued by NNCC are valid in the US and US territories. In addition, NNCC offers the CDN examination to nurses working outside of the US as well.
|
|
Welcome 2023: Ready for a New Year with NNCC!
|
|
As we welcome this New Year together, here are some friendly reminders to keep up with the latest news, information, awards, events and opportunities as a member of NNCC.
Reminder: Update Your Contact Information.
Keep NNCC up to date on all your most convenient contact information. If you have moved, or changed your email address, please be sure that NNCC has your most up-to-date contact information. Contact NNCC at 888-884-6622 or email nncc@nncc-exam.org.
Questions about certification or recertification?
Please contact NNCC directly with any questions. NNCC's National Office is open Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm ET. You can also use the Contact Us button on the NNCC website, or email NNCC, nncc@nncc-exam.org.
Has your certification credential already expired?
Remember, all requirements must be met during your certification period to be approved for recertification. Please contact NNCC to discuss your options. Visit the NNCC website, or email NNCC, nncc@nncc-exam.org.
Quality Improvement Award reminder!
NNCC’s Quality Improvement Award is ready for your application! Deadline to submit is June 30, 2023. Quality improvement is the foundation for improving care delivery and patient outcomes. Nurses, advance practice providers, and technicians are essential stakeholders in improving the process. NNCC believes that applying quality improvement strategies to the care of nephrology patients ultimately leads to safer and better outcomes. Ready to submit your application? Learn more today!
|
|
CNN-NP Recertification Eligibility Criteria Change
|
|
Effective 4/1/2023: CNN-NP continuing education required for recertification have been reduced as follows:
- Applicant must have 75 hours of continuing education from approved providers during the prior 5-year certification period that meet the following criteria:
- A minimum of 50 hours must be CME/CNE credits, a minimum of 25 contact hours must be specific to nephrology.
Programs/Presentations: These programs must be specific to nephrology practice. Certified nurses who present nephrology programs that are awarded continuing education credit will receive credit of five (5) contact hours for the presentation.
Independent Study: These programs include continuing education designed for independent study such as journal articles or website articles. Credit will be given according to the number of contact hours awarded to each offering.
The additional 25 hours may be obtained from any of the following:
Professional Publications: The publication of materials must be relevant to nephrology nursing. The format should be a manuscript, research paper, book, or book chapter and must be published by a recognized publishing house or professional journal. Fifteen (15) contact hours will be assigned for authorship or co-authorship of a book. Five (5) contact hours will be assigned for a book chapter, manuscript, article, or paper.
Academic Credit: Academic credits earned towards a health/science degree may be used. Fifteen (15) contact hours will be assigned per one (1) semester credit. Ten (10) contact hours will be assigned per one (1) quarter credit. Academic credits may only be used for one (1) certification period.
Precepting: Five (5) contact hours will be assigned for every forty (40) hours as an official preceptor in nephrology for nurse practitioners.
It is acceptable to obtain the entire 75 hours from CME/CNE continuing education programs and independent study. For more information on NNCC’s Commitment to Excellence in certification programming click here.
|
|
Attention: Magnet Hospitals - NNCC Voucher Program
|
NNCC is reaching out to Magnet healthcare organizations and those organizations applying for Magnet status to make you aware of nephrology nursing certification. It is the goal of NNCC to promote the highest standards of nephrology nursing practice. NNCC offers certification examinations for nephrology and dialysis healthcare professionals.
- CCHT: Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician, for the entry level technician.
- CCHT-A: Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician-Advanced, for those technicians with greater than five years’ experience.
- CDN: Certified Dialysis Nurse, for nurses working in the chronic outpatient dialysis unit.
- CNN: Certified Nephrology Nurse, for those nurses working in other areas of nephrology e.g., transplant, education, home therapies, administration, and others.
- CNN-NP: For those Nurse Practitioners working with patients with kidney disease across the spectrum.
For facilities who pay for the certification exams, we have developed a voucher system to enable the facility to pay for the examination without any upfront cost to the exam candidate. This will make it easier than ever for your colleagues to take the next step in becoming certified in nephrology! If you are working within a Magnet healthcare organization, we are asking for you to help in passing along this important information.
|
|
Nephrology Nurse Practitioners:
Contact Hours Reduction Took Effect 10/1/2022
|
|
|
The number one reason to become certified is to help ensure patient safety. Effective 10/1/2022, the NNCC Board of Commissioners, as well as the Advanced Practice Examination Board, unanimously decided to reduce the number of contact hours required when applying to take the CNN-NP certification examination to 20 nephrology specific contact hours approved by one of NNCC's approved accrediting bodies for continuing education credits.
NNCC hopes that this reduction in required contact hours will help you to take the next step in your nephrology career and apply to become CNN-NP certified! Please be aware that although programs may meet requirements set forth by other state boards of nursing, they may not meet the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission criteria.
|
|
Show Your NNCC Pride
|
|
|
|
Dialysis Technicians (CCHT)
|
|
NNCC's Question of the Month helps you test your knowledge. This month we pose this question for Dialysis Technicians (CCHT). Have fun!
"What is the most common cause of hypotension late during a hemodialysis treatment?"
|
|
Events
|
|
NNCC will be exhibiting at the following conferences this Spring:
Las Vegas, NV
March 28 - 31, 2023
Austin, TX
April 11 - 15, 2023
Palm Springs, CA
May 7 - 10, 2023
New Orleans, LA
June 20 - 25, 2023
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Industry & Health Care News
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
