 August 2014
The electronic news bulletin contains important information for all current certificants as well as those seeking certification. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns. nncc@nncc-exam.org or 888-884-6622.
Sent to those committed to excellence! IN THIS E-NEWS BULLETIN, PLEASE FIND THE FOLLOWING SHORT NEW BRIEFS FROM THE NNCC:
MORE FREQUENT ELECTRONIC NEW BULLETINS
One of the biggest challenges NNCC faces is providing current information to our certificants and potential certificants. To meet our goal of providing current and timely information, NNCC will be issuing its Electronic News Bulletins during even months (6 times/year). Make sure you don't miss any important information — be sure NNCC has your current email address.
SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS AND AWARDS AVAILABLE!
NNCC supports nephrology education and research by providing scholarships, grants and awards. We encourage everyone who is eligible to consider applying.
Barbara F. Prowant Nursing Research Grant
NNCC established this grant to be given annually through the American Nephrology Nurses' Association (ANNA). This $5,000 grant was established to promote nursing research, particularly in the area of nephrology. The deadline for applying for this grant is November 15, 2014. Please visit the ANNA or NNCC websites for the application and more information.
NNCC Career Mobility Scholarships:
For Technicians and LPNs/LVNs
Two (2) Career Mobility Scholarships are awarded annually to support a qualified CCHT, CCHT-A and/or CD/LPN/LVN. These scholarships provide funding for continuing education and development or support of a program to improve patient outcomes in the health science field. Each $2000 scholarship enables the winner 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. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; applications for the 2015 awards are being accepted now and will be accepted until November 29, 2014.
Winners will be notified in the spring of 2015.
NOTE: Fax copies of documents are NOT accepted.
For Nurses
Three (3) NNCC Career Mobility Scholarships are available annually to support qualified ANNA members in the pursuit of a BSN or advanced degree in nursing that will enhance their nephrology nursing practice. Applicants also must hold a current credential as a Certified Dialysis Nurse (CDN) or Certified Nephrology Nurse (CNN). The deadline for submission of applications is October 15, 2014.
Click on the link NNCC Career Mobility Scholarship for Nurses on the ANNA Site for more information.
For ANNA Associate Members
This scholarship will be awarded annually to support a qualified ANNA Associate member holding an NNCC certification credential and currently enrolled in a baccalaureate program in nursing. The deadline for submission of applications is October 15, 2014.
Click on the link NNCC Career Mobility Scholarship for Associate Members on the ANNA site for more information.
Nephrology Nursing Advocacy Award
This award is provided annually to one organization/facility/department/unit best able to demonstrate that it values certification as a way to promote patient safety and improve the quality of care provided to nephrology patients. The award consists 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. Details are now available on the NNCC website at www.nncc-exam.org.
Nominations must be received no later than January 1, 2015 for the 2015 award.
ONLINE PRACTICE EXAMS ARE AVAILABLE
Online practice exams are available for all applicants planning to take an NNCC certification examination. The practice examinations are available online through the NNCC website, www.nncc-exam.org under each credential logo.
Want to know if you are eligible to take the examination? Place your mouse over the desired credential logo on the NNCC website, www.nncc-exam.org to find all of the information regarding the examination including eligibility criteria, how to prepare and the application booklet available for download.
Have questions? Click here to contact NNCC.
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CD-LPN/LVN WORK EXPERIENCE: CHANGES FOR RECERTIFICATION |
NNCC approved changes to the CD-LPN/LVN work experience requirements to make the criteria consistent with those for the CDN and CNN recertification criteria.
The work hours have been decreased from 3000 hours in the previous three (3) years to 1500 hours in the previous three (3) years.
This change will be effective beginning July 1, 2015.
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CDN CERTIFICATION: CHANGES IN CONTACT HOUR CRITERIA |
NNCC approved an increase in the CDN contact hour requirements to make the criteria consistent with those for the CNN certification criteria.
The CDN requirement of 2000 work hours in the previous two (2) years of applying for the exam is unchanged; however, the number of required continuing education credits will increase from 15 to 20 within the two (2) years prior to applying for the CDN certification examination. This is comparable to the 30 hours of continuing education credits required during 3000 work hours with three (3) years of applying for the CNN examination.
This change will be effective beginning July 1, 2015.
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CDN RECERTIFICATION: CHANGES IN CONTACT HOUR CRITERIA |
NNCC approved an increase in the number of continuing education credits required for recertification for CDNs, which will make the criteria comparable to those of the CNN.
The number of continuing education credits required for recertification will increase from 30 hours to 45 hours in the previous three (3) years of certification, which is consistent with what is required for the CNN recertification.
This change will be effective beginning July 1, 2017.
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CCHT-A RECERTIFICATION: CHANGES TO CONTACT HOUR CRITERIA |
NNCC has approved a recommendation made by the Clinical/Technical Exam Board to require that 10 of the required 40 hours of continuing education credits be accredited by an approved provider. It is felt that experienced technicians working at an advanced level should seek some continuing education credits from professional meetings and educational offerings. This change is for the advanced CCHT holding the CCHT-A credential only.
This change will go into effect beginning April 1, 2015.
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CHANGES TO TEST BLUEPRINTS FOR NURSING EXAMINATIONS |
It is critical that a certification examination accurately reflects the practice of the professional being credentialed. To achieve this outcome, role delineation/practice surveys are distributed nationally to nephrology nurses and technicians, both certified and non-certified, approximately every five (5) years. The data analysis of the most recent nurse surveys conducted in 2012 suggests changes in practice areas for all nurses working in nephrology. To address these changes, the test blueprints for the CDN, CNN and CNN-NP exams have been revised. The test blueprints are used to determine the percentage of questions that must be included for specific practice areas in each certification exam.
The revised blueprints are being used now for nursing examinations. If you would like more detail on the revisions to the blueprints, please click this link to go to the April, 2014 Electronic News Bulletin.
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REVISED CNN EXAMINATION ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA |
The August 13, 2013 issue of this E-News blast discussed the confusion about the CNN and CDN examinations, and clarifies which examination is most appropriate for a nurse to take. To review that discussion in full please click this link to go to the August, 2013 Electronic News Bulletin.
The CNN examination was developed to be a proficiency-level examination that tests a broad scope of nephrology nursing practice, which includes clinical practice in a variety of different nephrology settings. Current practice survey data continue a diverse nephrology nursing practice for the CNN. In an effort to further clarify the work experience required to take the CNN examination, the NNCC approved changes to the CNN eligibility criteria that will go into effect as of January 1, 2015. If more details about the change in the eligibility criteria are desired, please click this link to go to the April, 2014 Electronic News Bulletin.
NNCC's goal is to provide certification examinations that are consistent with current clinical practice and that support safe, quality patient care. NNCC believes that this change to the CNN examination will support this goal.
If you have questions regarding this change, please contact NNCC through email at nncc@nncc-exam.org.
E-MAIL NNCC FOR ASSISTANCE
NNCC staff are available to assist with questions, but the phone can be challenging during times when many people are in the process of recertifying. If you need assistance, it is recommended that you email NNCC and a member of the office staff will contact you promptly. Simply go to the NNCC homepage at www.nncc-exam.org and click on "Contact NNCC" or add NNCC to your email address book: nncc@nncc-exam.org, for easy access.
NNCC STORE - ONLINE ORDERING NOW AVAILABLE
Products from the NNCC store can now be ordered online! Visit the NNCC homepage at www.nncc-exam.org and click on "NNCC Store." Shop online now!
THE ORIENTATION TO CERTIFICATION: A SLIDESHOW
Want to know more about certification and its value to your career and professional advancement? Well, we've created an easy-to-use presentation full of helpful information for your next ANNA chapter meeting. Visit the NNCC homepage at nncc-exam.org to download the presentation.
Complete the post-test and receive 0.5 contact hours that will be accepted by NNCC toward meeting the contact hour requirement for certification or recertification.
CONTINUING EDUCATION, CREDENTIAL VERIFICATION REMINDERS
Please review the applicable application form and note the criteria for continuing education submitted for certification and recertification. Continuing education credits must be applicable to the person's credential and scope of practice in nephrology. Continuing education credit for materials that do not apply to the person's nephrology role and scope of practice will not be accepted.
Another important reminder regards the NNCC Certified Directory, available on the NNCC website at www.nncc-exam.org. The NNCC Certified Directory allows for online verification of certification. It is maintained as a searchable database that displays all individuals matching the selection criteria who have not elected to keep their information private. All managers are strongly encouraged to verify credentials by viewing this directory regularly.
REMINDER - INCOMPLETE APPLICATION FEES
Please be aware that NNCC and its testing partner, the Center for Nursing Education and Testing (C-NET) continue to receive many applications that are incomplete, primarily for CCHT certification and recertification. Due to the amount of work required to process and follow-up on incomplete applications, an incomplete application fee of $25 is charged for each incomplete application. Incomplete applications also delay processing of the application, so it is critical that all applications be reviewed carefully to ensure that all required steps are completed properly.
NNCC ON FACEBOOK!!
The Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission is on 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.
"Like" us today on Facebook by visiting www.facebook.com/NNCCExam or by clicking the link below.
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.
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.
You are subscribed to NNCC's Email Newsletter - a free services of the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission. From time-to-time you will received an email such as this one with important news and information relevant to certification.
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