Abstract

Ongoing professional development is essential to maintain the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed for current nursing professional development (NPD) practice. Specialty certification delineates the Professional Development Specialist role in the latest edition of the NPD Scope and Standards of Practice, 3rd ed. A team was inspired after attending the Association for Nurses in Professional Development 2016 conference to transform all NPD practitioners into specialists. This presentation will focus on one team's efforts to increase NPD certification rates at a pediatric academic organization.

This team employed a leap to NPD certification campaign. One of the engaging interventions to increase certification rates was to host an onsite two-day certification preparation course led by expert faculty. The course included an extensive review of foundational concepts and test taking concepts, including a practice exam. Another intervention was to develop confidence by designing monthly group study activities. Finally, a NPD certification mentor was made available to guide practitioners on their certification journey.

There are 29 NPD practitioners with a current NPD certification rate of 28%. The goal is to increase the rate to 50% by June of 2017. The NPD leap to certification campaign was designed to support the role development of the NPD practitioner. NPD practitioners are leaders in the promotion of certification and lifelong learning. It is critical for practitioners to role model this certification competency by advancing the NPD profession. Specialty certification in NPD also promotes the value of NPD practice in the healthcare setting.

Author Details

Nicki Shonka, MS, RN-BC, CPN; Susan B. Clarke, MS, RNC-NIC, RN-BC, CNS; Lisa Baske, MS, RN-BC

Sigma Membership

Non-member

Type

Poster

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

N/A

Research Approach

N/A

Keywords:

Professional Development, NPD Certification

Conference Name

2017 ANPD Annual Convention

Conference Host

Association for Nursing Professional Development (ANPD)

Conference Location

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Conference Year

2017

Rights Holder

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Review Type

Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

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Transforming NPD practice by increasing certification rates

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Ongoing professional development is essential to maintain the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed for current nursing professional development (NPD) practice. Specialty certification delineates the Professional Development Specialist role in the latest edition of the NPD Scope and Standards of Practice, 3rd ed. A team was inspired after attending the Association for Nurses in Professional Development 2016 conference to transform all NPD practitioners into specialists. This presentation will focus on one team's efforts to increase NPD certification rates at a pediatric academic organization.

This team employed a leap to NPD certification campaign. One of the engaging interventions to increase certification rates was to host an onsite two-day certification preparation course led by expert faculty. The course included an extensive review of foundational concepts and test taking concepts, including a practice exam. Another intervention was to develop confidence by designing monthly group study activities. Finally, a NPD certification mentor was made available to guide practitioners on their certification journey.

There are 29 NPD practitioners with a current NPD certification rate of 28%. The goal is to increase the rate to 50% by June of 2017. The NPD leap to certification campaign was designed to support the role development of the NPD practitioner. NPD practitioners are leaders in the promotion of certification and lifelong learning. It is critical for practitioners to role model this certification competency by advancing the NPD profession. Specialty certification in NPD also promotes the value of NPD practice in the healthcare setting.