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We hope our certified nurses had a wonderful time celebrating National Certified Nurses Day! We’d love to hear how your organization honored your commitment to excellence. Share your story with us at kim.carbonaro@nncc-exam.org!
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NNCC's New Leadership
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Thank you to Lori Neal for her exceptional leadership as NNCC President over the past two years. It has been an honor to have Lori represent NNCC on a national level. Her dedication and contributions will be deeply missed by the Commission. |
Welcome to NNCC incoming President, Karen Socher! Karen will take office on April 1, 2025.
 Karen has been a Certified Nephrology Nurse Practitioner for 13 years with over 22 years of nephrology nursing experience. She enjoys working for Stormont-Vail Health and has a background in chronic kidney disease, acute kidney failure, acute therapies, home therapies, transplant, inpatient care, and dialysis. Karen volunteers with the National Kidney Foundation Patient Empowerment Program and has served as a CNN-NP item-writer and board member.
Get to know more about Karen here.
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 Congratulations to Carrie Johnson, MSN RN CNN. Carrie has been appointed to serve as President-elect, effective April 1, 2025. Carrie has been a nephrology nurse since 2011 and has experience working in acute hemodialysis, outpatient hemodialysis, and home therapies. Carrie is currently working as a Renal Care Coordinator Supervisor with Interwell Health. She served as an item writer for the CNN Test Committee from 2015 to 2020. She obtained her MSN in Quality, Safety, and Risk Management in June 2021. Carrie has served on the NNCC Board of Commissioners since 2020.
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 Beginning April 1, 2025, Lori Mahaffey, RN CNN will serve as NNCC Secretary. Lori is a Certified Nephrology Nurse with 35 years of experience in Nephrology. Lori has held various positions during her tenure in dialysis, including both chronic and acute hemodialysis, Peritoneal Dialysis Coordinator, Transplant Liaison, and Director of Clinical Operations of 4 centers for 17 years. Lori has served on the local ANNA Level as Chapter President and Chapter Secretary. On the National Level, she has served on the ANNA Conference Committee. Lori was a chapter author for Contemporary Nephrology Nursing’s 3rd Edition and a chapter reviewer for the 4th edition. Lori has also been selected several times as an item writer/reviewer for the National Council of the State Board of Nursing. Lori served as a member of the NNCC’s CNN Test Committee for 10 years and a member of the Nurse Exam Board for 4 years. Lori has served on the NNCC Board of Commissioners since 2022. |
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NNCC Announces 2024 Highest Scorers
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The NNCC Board of Commissioners would like to congratulate the following certificates for achieving the highest scores in 2024 on their certification examinations:
There was two-way tie for the CCHT highest score:
Mariah Cortinas, Yelm, WA, Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT)
Nicole Waterworth, Aberdeen, WA, Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT)
Katherine Richardson, Southfield, MI, Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician – Advanced (CCHT-A)
Faith Balian-Byson, Pasco, WA, Certified Dialysis Nurse (CDN)
Jeliza Santos, Oakley, CA, Certified Nephrology Nurse (CNN)
Michelle Neuman, Morgantown, WV, Certified Nephrology Nurse – Nurse Practitioner (CNN-NP)
Outstanding work! You are all truly remarkable!
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What is Dialysis Nursing?
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NNCC Executive Director, Katherine Houle, was featured on the nursing career’s website, All Nusing Schools. Kathy explains dialysis nursing.
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Nephrology Nurse and Technician Career Mobility Scholarship – Now Open
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Awarded to NKF members holding CNN/CDN or CCHT/CCHT-A certification credentials, in partnership by the National Kidney Foundation Council of Nephrology Nurses & Technicians (CNNT) and the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC), this scholarship application is open from March 17 - June 1, 2025.
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Advanced Clinical Hemodialysis Technician
Take the NNCC MARCH Pop Quiz
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MARCH QUESTION! Here is another question of the month! “NNCC’s Question of the Month” helps you test your knowledge. This month we pose this question for the Advanced Clinical Hemodialysis Technician: During a dialysis treatment, a patient reports severe itching. The patient's laboratory findings include: Calcium: 8.0 mg/dL; Phosphorus: 7.2 mg/dL; Potassium: 4.2 mEq/L; Albumin: 3.8g/dL; Sodium: 140 mEq/L. The technician suspects the patient's symptoms are a result of…
Take the quiz to see the list of options, choose the correct answer, and find the rationale and reference information.
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NNCCs Water for Dialysis Program: What's in your Water?
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NNCC’s Water for Dialysis Program, What’s in your Water? is a learning activity provided by NNCC to help participants obtain knowledge and competency concerning water treatment for dialysis. Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to:
• Identify the components of the dialysis water system including their purposes, monitoring requirements, and patient safety considerations.
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• Explain how water-related clinical problems occur, are identified, and can be prevented.
• Discuss the elements of the CMS water survey that ensure compliance with safety.
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Great News: Upon completion, a certificate will be provided awarding a four-contact hour credit to be used towards NNCC certification or recertification continuing education requirements.
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Free Practice Exam! Approved CCHT-A Test-Takers!
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Experienced Dialysis Technicians, NNCC is now offering a free online practice exam when you are approved to take the CCHT-A certification examination. You now have one more reason to take the next step in the advancement of your career goals!
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FREE Online CNN-NP Practice Exam
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NNCC Board of Commissioners and the Advanced Practice Examination Board have examined some of the roadblocks for nephrology nurse practitioners taking the CNN-NP certification examination.
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A lack of resources and preparation materials seem to be a large factor. NNCC will now offer a free online CNN-NP practice examination to nephrology nurse practitioners who have been approved to take the CNN-NP examination. Upon approval for testing, nephrology nurse practitioners will receive a link to take the online practice exam. This, in addition to the free CNN-NP Certification Preparation Guide, will have you well on your way to preparing for the exam!
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UPCOMING EVENTS: SPRING 2025
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NNCC will be exhibiting at the following conferences this Spring. We hope to see you there!
Las Vegas, NV
April 1 – 4, 2025
Boston, MA
April 10 – 13, 2025
Portland, OR
May 1 – 4, 2025
San Diego, CA
June 17 – 22, 2025
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Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission
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