1. Quad Council for Public Health Nursing Organizations
“ALL OUT” FOR EXCELLENCE CERTIFICATION AND DEGREE COMPLETION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES
Quad Council for Public Health Nursing Organizations
Educational Webinar
April 11, 2012

2. PRESENTERS Moderator: Presenters: Glynnis LaRosa, RN, MPH, CPHQ
ASTDN President
Boston, MA
Presenters:
Lisa Campbell, DNP, RN, APHN-BC, GNP-BC
PHN Section-APHA, ASTDN
Victoria, TX
Michelle Cravetz, MS, RN-BC, APHN-BC ASTDN, ACHNE, PHN Section-APHA
Albany, NY
Christine Vandenhouten, PhD, RN, APHN-BC ACHNE, PHN Section-APHA
Green Bay, Wisconsin

3. SPONSORED BY

4. Acknowledgements ACHNE Education Committee Members
Barbara Battin Little, DNP, MPH, RN, APHN-BC, CNE (Chair)
Pamela Ark, PhD, RN
Laurel Janssen Breen, PhD RN CNE
Crystal DeVance-Wilson, MSN, MBA, APRN, BC
Mary Ann Drake, PhD, RN
Diane Ernst, RN, MSN, MBA, PhD
Cathy Hughes, DNP, MSN, RN
Joan Kub, PhD, APHN-BC
Eileen Sarsfield, PhD, PHCNS-BC 
Christine Savage, RN, PhD, CARN
Christine L. Vandenhouten, PhD, RN, APHN-BC 4

5. Agenda PHN Practice Standards and Credentialing Education
PHN Ready Program – continuing education
RN-to-BSN and Masters Programs
National Certifications
American Nurses Credentialing Center
National Board of Public Health Examiners
Resources for studying

6. Learning Objectives
At the end of this offering, the learner will be able to:
List at least three ways PHNs are accountable for their practice
Describe continuing education opportunities through the Public Health Nurse Ready Program
Locate resources for RN-to-BSN and Masters degree completion on the web
Describe opportunities for PHNs to attain certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the National Board of Public Health Examiners
Apply exam preparation strategies to certification exams

7. Professionals are Accountable for their Practice
Public Health Nurses are accountable for their practice by:
Establishing standards and credentials for their practice;
Meeting professional standards;
Achieving relevant credentials; and
Meeting program and organizational standards.

8. Establishing Standards And Credentials
Standards may be applied on an individual or organizational level.
American Nurses Association -
Scope and Standards of Practice for Public Health Nurses
Developed by PHNs to outline expectations for the highest level of practice.
Quad Council of Public Health Nursing Organizations –
Core Competencies for Public Health Nurses
Outlines performance expectations for PHNs at different levels of practice.
Council on Linkages between Academia and Practice –
Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals - Not specific to nursing or public health nurses.
Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) – public health agency accreditation.

9. Establishing PHN Credentials
Level of education – Pre- and Post-employment requirements.
Scope and Standards require BSN as minimum for PHNs.
Some states require BSN as minimum education for PHNs.
Licensure – What is legally required to practice?
Cannot work as a nurse in the state without this credential.
Established by states – RN, APN.
Workplace requirements – Employer-based.
Verification of transcripts, licensure, work history.
Wide range of jobs in public health employ nurses.
May determine reimbursement.

10. Public Health Nurse (PHN) Ready Program
Free, online education
Available 24/7 wherever there is internet access
Based on Quad Council competencies
CNE available for every offering - free
Awards a certificate
Especially valuable to nurses new to public health or re-entering the field
Useful to those who want a refresher
Does not offer academic credit – CNEs only

11. RN-To-BSN Completion
Scope and Standards document: calls for BSN as entry level to Public Health
It is at the BSN level where the student learns about the community as patient
Myth or Fact?
To find a BSN completion program, go to:

12. Seeking a Higher Degree
MSN and/or MPH?
Doctoral Degrees – DNP, PhD
Preparation for higher levels of practice/different type of practice?
See: Your Guide to Graduate Nursing Programs

13. Considerations Cost vs. benefit of getting the degree
Time commitments/restraints
Money – look for sources of financial assistance. See: and, for future Nurse Educators:
Family and employer factors
Goals – career and personal
Format – in-person/on-line/hybrids
What are you looking for out of your educational experience?
What can you put in?

14. National Certifications

15. National Certifications
American Nurses Credentialing Center
For nurses only
APHN-BC, PHCNS-BC or CHN
National Board of Public Health Examiners
CPH – “Certified in Public Health”
Must have completed an MPH
Public health generalist

16. Public health Certification Survey Results
Perspectives from ACHNE, APHA-PHN, ASTDN, & ANA members

17. PHN Certification Survey Results
Survey Conducted in March/April, 2012
Sample: 897 Surveys completed
Membership in sponsoring organizations

18. PHN Certification Survey Results
The Sample
Primary Setting
65% Official PH setting
17% Faculty
Others - Hospital, State Consultant, School Health, CDC
Primary Role
33% Administrative
30% Staff Nurse
18% Faculty
2% Educator
Education
16% ADN
36% BSN
30% Masters prepared (21% MSN; 6% MPH; 3% MS)
16% Doctorally prepared

19. PHN Certification Survey Results
Certification Status
Majority (69%) of respondents are not certified in Public Health (PHN or PH)
79% were never certified in PHN or PH
Current Certifications held include:
4% (35) APHN-BC
5% (42) PHCNS-BC
3% (22) PH (non-nursing)
22%(190) Hold other certifications
60% interested in becoming certified
55% PHN
5% PH

20. PHN Certification Survey Results
Rewards, Incentives, Barriers to Certification
79% Were unaware of the new eligibility criteria for PHN certification.
90% Employers do not require certification
75% No incentive offered by employer
12% Certification helped them when applying to new positions
32% Felt it did not help
55% Did not know if it made a difference

21. PHN Certification Survey Results
Barriers to Certification
52% Lack of knowledge of certification opportunities
52% Unaware of eligibility criteria
41% Cost
40% Not valued/rewarded by employer
36% Time to Prepare
16% Other - retired, job security in question, no study guide, unaware of testing process or location.

22. PHN Certification Survey Results
Motivators to becoming Certified
58% Enhanced Professional Credibility
55% Evidence of Professional Commitment
51% Personal Satisfaction
50% Feeling of Personal Accomplishment
49% Validates Specialized Knowledge
44% Professional Challenge
42% Indicates Higher Level of Clinical Competence
32% Increased Marketability
26% Recognition from Peers
25% Recognition from other Healthcare Professionals
14% Required by Employer
12% Increased Consumer Confidence
10% Increased Salary

23. PHN Certification Survey Results
Certification Preparation
62% 4 - One hour webinars with content review
58% One hour webinar certification options
57% One hour webinar How to Prepare/Study Resources
32% 4 Hour Content Review Webinar
7% Other
Regional review (face to face)
One on One trainings
Self-paced, self study modules online
Study guide (paper)

24. Certification ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES
Advantages/Pluses
Barriers/Minuses
Shows personal accountability for your practice
Not always recognized by employers as important
Validates competence - Professional distinction lends credibility and prestige
May not garner additional rewards (pay, rank) for certification
Employers and unions sometimes reimburse exam fees
Can be expensive
$ for APHN-BC exam
$ for CPH exam
Renewals
Encourages/shows lifetime learning
Personal satisfaction
PHNs with MPH will need to decide: Which exam? Or both?

25. AMERICAN NURSES CREDENTIALING CENTER (ANCC)
Different categories have been provided for PHNs
Public Health Nurse, Advanced (APHN-BC-Advanced Public Health Nurse-Board Certified). Currently available.
Clinical Nurse Specialist in Public/Community Health (PHCNS-BC) – Exam has been retired/can be renewed if professional development and practice hours requirements are met. No testing option for renewal.
Community Health Nursing - Exam also retired, but can be renewed if professional development and practice hour requirements have been met. No testing option for renewal.
Initial certification is renewed every 5 years.

26. Eligibility - ANCC Exams

27. Recertification Issues - ANCC
Can track continuing education credits in the ANCC system between certification periods, which is very helpful.
TRAIN and other Learning Management Systems may also be used to track hours of continuing education.
Applications for renewal are due 8 weeks before certification lapses.
For 2 exams(Clinical Nurse Specialist in Public/ Community Health or PHCNS-BC and Community Health Nursing), there is no testing option available for renewal.

29. Options for Renewal Current, active RN license;
Option A: Professional Development plus Practice Hours
Current, active RN license;
Hold a current ANCC certification (not lapsed);
Complete within the 5 years preceding renewal application:
Professional development requirements for your certification specialty; and
1,000 practice hours in your certification role and population/specialty.
Option B: Professional Development plus Testing
This option applies only to those certifications in which an exam is available.
Hold a current ANCC certification;
Within the 5 years preceding your renewal application:
Complete the professional development requirements for your specific certification; and
Pass the exam. (If you do not pass the exam, your certification is no longer valid.)

30. Practice Hours Required for renewal
You must complete a minimum of 1,000 practice hours in your certification specialty within the 5 years preceding the postmark on your renewal application.
You can count hours of employment or as a volunteer.
Faculty can use hours of direct clinical supervision of students for clinical practice. The direct clinical supervision must be in the certification specialty.
Advanced practice (CNS and NP) faculty must have direct supervision of advanced practice nursing students.

31. Professional Development Hours required for Renewal
Must be completed within the 5 years preceding renewal in two of the six professional development categories.
Categories 1–5 may be doubled; 6 may not. (See next slide for categories.)
Beginning January 1, 2014, all candidates must complete Category 1 (75 continuing education hours), plus one additional category.
Candidates are allowed to fulfill the entire Professional Development requirement by submitting twice under Category 1, for a total of 150 continuing education hours.

32. Categories, Summarized
Category
Requirement 1
Continuing Education Hours - 75 2
Academic Credits - 5 Semester or 6 Quarter 3
Educational Presentations – 5 4
Publication or Research – different requirements for different types of publications, research. 5
Preceptor – 120 hours 6
Professional Service – 2 or more years
For more detail, see: Pages 5 through 11 at

33. Materials and resources Available from ANCC
Sample test questions
Posters, brochures to promote certification
PDFs of publications are available from ANCC
ANCC will mail multiple copies to facilities - complete an online form
ANCC Certification Applications
School Codes Directory
“Building A Better Future”
Film showing value of certification to nurses, administrators, patients
Faculty can share the link with students or request a free DVD
Recommended Reading List
Review Seminar - Available to schools/agencies
School/agency provides space and audio-visual needs
A minimum of 25 attendees are required, but with advanced notice, ANCC will market to fill the room.
Nurses from your agency can get a substantial discount to attend.

34. National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE)
CPH exam – “Certified in Public Health”
Generalist; not specific to PH Nursing
An alternative certification for those who have earned a graduate level degree (Masters or Doctoral) from a school or program of public health accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
May compete with ANCC for credentialing of PHNs with MPH
Maintenance requirements currently being determined – 50 hours every 2 years

36. How do the Tests Compare? CONTENT AREAS
ANCC
NBPHE
Foundations of advance PHN practice
Human development
Epidemiology and biostatistics
Evaluation and research
Assessment of public and community health
Strategies to improve public and community health
Health promotion, disease prevention and risk reduction
Education for populations and communities
Health systems, organizations and networks
Leadership
See:
5 Core Areas:
Biostatistics
Environmental health services
Epidemiology
Health policy and management
Social and behavioral sciences
Cross-Cutting Areas:
Communication and informatics
Diversity and culture
Public health biology
Professionalism
Programs planning
Systems thinking
See:

37. Exam Preparation Both organizations have study guides available.
Additional information is available on their websites.
Develop a study plan early.

38. CPH Exam Resources
Online resources available:
ASPH Study Guide:
Jones and Bartlett Study Guide:
Webinars on NBPHE website:
Practice Exam Questions can be found at

39. Preparing for Certifying exams – study tips
What can you do on your own?
Read all materials on the website very carefully.
Look carefully at the topical areas covered and assess where you need to spend more of your time preparing.
Use current texts to study.
Review class notes and materials.
Look up online resources
Download and take the sample test.

40. More Study Tips… Prepare for the process of test-taking:
Review the test procedures described on the website.
Find out where your nearest testing center is. Many centers allow you to arrange a tour before the test date.
Leave time to prepare on test day. Remember your admission paperwork.
Can you make it a group project?
“Study Buddies” are very helpful, even if they are “virtual.”
If you think you can muster 25 people, consider asking ANCC to give a review course at your facility.

41. Study Guide Refer to the Study Guide. Formatted by Topical Area.
See Reference List.

42. Upcoming Workshops Wednesday, May 9th 12:30 to 4 PM Austin, TX
ASTDN
ACHNE
Wednesday, May 9th
12:30 to 4 PM
Austin, TX
Review of study guide and study tips
Saturday, June 9th
10:15 -11:15 AM
Portland, Oregon
Overview of certification process and study tips

43. QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
The link to the archive and the slides will be posted on the ASTDN website at
An will be sent via the ASTDN, ACHNE, and APHA-PHN section list serves when the archive is ready
Dr. Lisa Campbell can be contacted via with further certification questions:

44. Please consider taking the certification exam!
Thank you!
Thank you for attending today’s presentation.
For additional information:
Study Guide
Resource Handout
Please consider taking the certification exam!