ONCC News The Newsletter of the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation The Newsletter of the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation 125 Enterprise Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15275-1214 Toll free: 877-769-ONCC Phone: 412-859-6104 Fax: 412-859-6168 E-mail: oncc@ons.org Web site: www.oncc.org Volume XXI, No. 4, Winter 2007 2008 Celebrate Certification at Annual Recognition Breakfast Mark Flitcraft, RN, MSN, OCN One of the most sought-after tickets at the Oncology Nursing Society Annual Congress is the ONCC Recognition Breakfast for Oncology Certified Nurses. The Recognition Breakfast provides an opportunity for networking with colleagues and recognizing the value of certification. At this special event for certified oncology nurses only, certification is celebrated with a ca- Dave Balch tered breakfast, recognition of award winners, and an inspirational presentation by a professional speaker. This year s breakfast will be held on Friday, May 16, in Philadelphia, PA, and promises to be engaging. Nationally acclaimed speaker Dave Balch from The Patient Partner Project will impart his advice in You Can Handle More Than You Think You Can: Your Amazing Ability to Be Brave and Strong. Tickets for the Recognition Breakfast require advance reservation. Watch your e- mail in March for your invitation to reserve your ticket online, and then act quickly. This is always a sold-out event. Based on the availability of open seats, those who are unable to secure reservations may be seated as space permits. We hope that you will join the celebration! 2008 ONCC Certification Test Dates and Application Deadlines OCN & CPON Test Dates August 1 30, 2008 November 1 29, 2008 AOCNP and AOCNS Test Dates First Application Deadline (Save $75!) April 9, 2008 July 9, 2008 Apply online or learn more at www.oncc.org. Final Application Deadline (Full Fee) April 24, 2008 July 23, 2008 Year-round tests are available. Allow four to six weeks to receive an Authorization to Test. ONCC Presents Posters at Advanced Practice Conference Julie Ponto, RN, APRN-BC, AOCN ONCC presented two posters reflecting its work in the area of advanced practice at the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Advanced Practice Nursing Conference this past fall in Chicago, IL. ONCC Past President Julie Ponto, RN, APRN-BC, AOCN, and ONCC Executive Director Cynthia Miller Murphy, RN, MSN, CAE, presented the first poster, Advanced Practice Oncology Certification: Role-Specific Examinations, which described the development and current status of the two advanced practice certification examinations that ONCC currently offers. The development of the advanced practice examinations was based on a role delineation study (RDS) of advanced practice oncology nurses. An RDS is a commonly used framework designed to obtain descriptive information about job activities and knowledge required to adequately perform those activities. An RDS is conducted at least every five years in accordance with ONCC policy. The most recent advanced practice RDS revealed that although overlap exists among advanced practice roles in oncology, sufficient differences in the roles warranted separate test blueprints. Oncology nurse practitioners (NPs) and clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) do share a common knowledge base, but statistically significant differences exist among certain work responsibilities. These differences are reflected in the two test blueprints. What s Inside... (See Posters, page 4) President s Message... 2 Meet the Newest Board Member... 3 Employer Spotlight... 5 Scofield Winners... 6 Compensation Practices Shared... 7 Practice Round... 8
President s Message Volunteerism Is Our Foundation I shall pass through this world but once. Any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again. Etienne de Grellet Because this issue of ONCC News focuses on volunteerism, it seems appropriate to begin my message with a quotation from author Etienne de Grellet. Volunteerism is the foundation on which ONCC and the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) were built. Imagine the 200 founding members of ONS who came together years ago to form an organization that now includes more than 35,000 members. From that organization came the idea to establish a certification program for oncology nurses, leading to the creation of the Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN ) examination, which was first administered in 1986. Since then, we now also offer advanced oncology certified nurse examinations for nurse practitioners (AOCNP ) and clinical nurse specialists (AOCNS ), as well as a Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse Carlton G. Brown, APRN, PhD, AOCN (CPON ) examination. In 2009, ONCC will begin administering the Certified Breast Care Nurse (CBCN) examination, with the hope of eventually developing subspecialty certification in radiation oncology and blood and marrow stem cell transplantation. Inevitably, volunteers will play an active part in the development of the new certification examinations. Imagine the thousands of test items that have been written for our examinations all by volunteer oncology nurses. Approximately 175 volunteers give tremendous amounts of time to ONCC s certification programs. In addition to the nurses who write test items, volunteers create ONCC News to help inform and educate certified nurses. Many other volunteers serve on various committees and task forces. In addition, nine ONCC Board members guide and lead the organization into the future of oncology nursing certification. Volunteers primarily provide an organization s foundation, emphasis, and focus. Without the continued dedication of volunteers, ONCC might cease to function. Historically, volunteers have worked diligently to take ONCC to where it is today. However, ONCC also needs new lifeblood and new ideas to move oncology nursing certification forward. We all know what happens when the same people do the same work with the same ideas for long periods of time: The organization becomes stagnant and ineffective. Thus, I ask each of you to consider becoming involved in ONCC. We offer tremendous opportunities for involvement. If ONCC is to continue to be successful and move into new areas, serving certified nurses for years to come, we will need nurses like you who can offer new ideas, new knowledge, and new lifeblood. In the words of de Grellet, we will not pass this way again. I believe that we have a responsibility to shape and lead this organization that has served us so well. I thank our many volunteers, both past and present, who have made ONCC one of the premier certification organizations. Furthermore, I ask you to become active in ONCC. With your new ideas and determination, we can make the organization even better. Pretest Items on Breast Care Exam ONCC will pilot test (beta test) items for the Certified Breast Care Nurse (CBCN) examination at this year s Oncology Nursing Society Congress, May 15 18 in Philadelphia, PA. Nurses who wish to participate must meet the eligibility criteria for the CBCN examination. Participants will receive a voucher for a $25 discount on the CBCN examination registration fee. The CBCN examination will be offered beginning in 2009. The purpose of pilot testing is to determine whether test items are statistically sound and fair. Extensive analyses will be performed on each item to determine how well it performs. Items that have poor statistics will not be used on the test as scored items but will be discarded or rewritten and pretested again. Items that perform well may be used on future test forms. Participants will not be given a score or notified of their performance on pretested items. To be eligible to participate in the pilot testing, nurses must have A current, active, unrestricted RN license at the time of application and examination A minimum of one year (12 months) of experience as an RN in the three years (36 months) prior to application A minimum of 1,000 hours of breast care practice in the two-and-a-half years (30 months) prior to application Completed a minimum of 10 contact hours of continuing nursing education in breast care nursing in the three years (36 months) prior to application. ONCC will issue a call for volunteers in March. Watch your e-mail or the ONCC Web site (www.oncc.org) for your invitation to participate and instructions on how to apply. The News Needs You Consider joining the ONCC News Editorial Board and participating in planning and writing upcoming newsletter issues. ONCC News Editorial Board members must be certified nurses. All work is completed via e-mail and conference calls; no travel is required. Download the ONCC volunteer application at www.oncc.org/ about/volunteer.shtml and apply today. 2
Meet the Newest Board Member: Susan D. Bruce Michael Smart, RN, BSN, OCN As a result of the recent election, Susan D. Bruce, RN, MSN, OCN, will be the newest face to join the ONCC Board of Directors. With more than 20 years of oncology experience, Bruce has demonstrated her passion for certification for as many years. Bruce currently works for Duke Raleigh Hospital in North Carolina, where she is a clinical nurse IV on a medical oncology unit. Clinical nurse IV is the highest designation in the hospital s clinical ladder program, and Bruce is the only nurse designated as such on her unit. She has made many contributions to the field of oncology nursing, including serving as a test item writer for ONCC and an ONS Connect Editorial Board member, participating in the ONS Evidence-Based Practice Education Group, and mentoring others through the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing Mentor/Fellow Writing Program. I recently had the opportunity to interview Bruce and thought that her words might help to elucidate the role of an ONCC Board member. The following are excerpts from our conversation. ONCC News: What do you see as the role of the ONCC Board of Directors? Bruce: The role of the ONCC Board is to oversee the strategic planning of certification in the years to come. It is also responsible for maintaining the integrity of the certification process. ONCC News: ONCC has done a lot over the years since you became certified in 1988. With more than 25,000 nurses currently certified in oncology, ONCC certainly has had an impact. Yet with more than six million cancer survivors in the United States alone, how do you see ONCC moving forward or doing things differently to increase the number of certified nurses? Bruce: The biggest obstacles to nurses becoming certified are funding for examination fees and extra compensation provided by institutions. Many people are unaware of the Roberta Scofield Memorial Certification Award, which pays for certifi- I am a lifelong learner, and this mindset drives me and is responsible for many of the choices I make. I am constantly looking for new challenges and have a difficult time saying no to new opportunities presented to me as certification was back in 1988. cation fees (www.oncc.org/awards/awards.html). I promote this award to all nurses who plan on taking an ONCC examination. We need to do a better job of getting the word out. Another area that we need to focus on is getting institutions to recognize and provide monetary compensation for nurses who become certified. I have been certified for almost 20 years. Last year was the first time that I have ever been financially compensated, and this was through a one-time bonus. ONCC News: You have talked in the past about being a fan of subspecialty certification. How would you respond to individuals who wonder whether this is the right direction for ONCC to be heading? Bruce: Having worked in radiation oncology for four years, I can use this as an example. Radiation oncology is a highly specialized subspecialty of oncology and very technical in nature. Some people have worked only in radiation oncology, and they are wonderful resources to those who have not. Why should they not be recognized for possessing this specialized body of knowledge? The same applies to blood and marrow stem cell transplantation, another highly specialized subspecialty of oncology. In terms of breast care, I think that the Certified Breast Care Nurse credential is appropriate for nurses who care for patients with a potential or actual diagnosis of breast cancer, such as nurses who work in breast clinics. Thoracic oncology, neurooncology, and orthopedic oncology also are subspecialties, at least in large teaching facilities. I believe that subspecialty certification may draw more people to become certified because they only need to know about their specialty. Many people are intimidated by having to know information that they do not use on a daily basis or to which they never have been exposed. ONCC News: In 1988, far fewer nurses were certified. What made you decide to pursue certification? Bruce: I am a lifelong learner, and this mindset drives me and is responsible for many of the choices I make. I am constantly looking for new challenges and have a difficult time saying no to new opportunities presented to me as certification was back in 1988. I view each opportunity as a chance to learn something that I never have done before. I enjoy the intellectual stimulation. This mindset is also one of the reasons I decided to pursue a master s degree in oncology. ONCC News: Right now, oncology certification seems to be more the exception to the rule rather than the norm in many settings. Do you have ideas on how to change this? Bruce: We need to address the obstacles to certification that I mentioned previously. I also believe that currently certified nurses need to help mentor noncertified nurses. I look back over the years and see all the doors and opportunities that have been presented to me largely as a result of being certified. Those opportunities have played an enormous role in my personal and professional growth and development. The opportunities I was given as a result of becoming certified provided me with a bigger picture of oncology in general. I think that is essential in today s healthcare arena. 3
Conference Attendees Advance the Art of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nursing Janice Nuuhiwa, MSN, APN/CNS, CPON Hundreds of pediatric hematology-oncology nurses gathered in Milwaukee, WI, last October for the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON) 31st Annual Conference. More than 100 posters were on display in the exhibit hall while multiple concurrent sessions and general sessions offered information on a variety of topics ranging from current treatment strategies to supportive care. Dr. Stuart Robertshaw, also known as Dr. Humor, stimulated laughter during the Recognition Breakfast for Oncology Certified Nurses as he encouraged nurses to reap the benefits of infusing humor into their professional lives. Special thanks to ONCC and Merck and Company for their generous support of this well-attended and much appreciated event. Cheryl Rodgers, MSN, CPNP, CPON, APHON Local Chapter Committee chair, made an exciting announcement regarding the 2008 local chapter incentive program. Two local chapters with the highest percentage of CPON -certified nurses among their chapter memberships will receive a monetary award at the 2008 APHON meeting, which will be held September 25 27 in Albuquerque, NM. The conference closed with a robust business meeting and encouragement from SuperSibs! Executive Director Melanie Goldish, MA, a mother of a childhood cancer survivor and a SuperSib, who affirmed the role of nursing in guiding families throughout their cancer journeys toward healing. We look forward to gathering again at this year s APHON Conference in Albuquerque! Posters (Continued from page 1) To date, 576 and 239 individuals have taken the AOCNP and AOCNS tests, respectively. There are currently 495 AOCNP s and 204 AOCNS s. For the past two years, the average pass rate for the AOCNP test was 83% (range = 76% 87%) and 78% (range = 72% 81%) for the AOCNS test. The lower pass rate for the AOCNS test is likely because of the smaller number of test takers. Qualitative data from satisfaction surveys reflect very favorable responses to the examinations overall. The examinations will continue to be updated based on future RDSs. Ponto, Murphy, and ONS Director of Commercial Publishing Barbara Sigler, MNEd, RN, presented a second poster, Developing Oncology CNS and NP Competencies, which described the joint initiative between ONS and ONCC to develop and disseminate competencies for oncology CNS and oncology NP practice. The intent of the initiative was to define oncology CNS and NP practice through competencies for each role that will lead to standardized oncology APN regulation, education, and practice. ONS previously published documents describing standards of advanced oncology practice; however, role-specific competencies now are needed to clearly describe current CNS and NP practice. Competencies for oncology CNSs and NPs should promote role clarity, provide competency goals for students, and be used by employers to determine competency standards for CNSs and NPs. The initiative began with a task force that included oncology CNS and NP educators Feedback on ONCC surveys and e-mails is an important component in improving the tools and resources available in oncology practice. and practitioners, ONS staff, and representatives from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists, and National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. The task force convened to review existing advanced practice standards and competency documents and draft oncology-specific competencies for each role. The draft competencies then were put through a national vetting process prior to final publication. 4 The oncology NP competencies have been published and are available on the ONS Web site at www.ons.org/clinical/ Professional/QualityCancer/documents/ NPCompetencies.pdf. The oncology CNS competencies document is currently under national review and will be available later this spring. Both documents will be reviewed and updated on a regular basis to ensure consistency with current advanced oncology practice. They will provide important information for educators, practitioners, and regulators and will be a useful guide for future advanced oncology practice. Both posters received very positive feedback from conference attendees. After viewing them, many nurses stated that they realized the importance of participating in national ONCC and ONS initiatives and were reminded that their feedback on ONCC surveys and e-mails is an important component in improving the tools and resources available in oncology practice. I thank all who have participated in ONCC surveys, task forces, and projects in the past. We look forward to having many more people participate in the future!
ONCC News, Volume XXI, No. 4, Winter 2007 2008 New Mexico Institution Demonstrates Excellence Janice Nuuhiwa, MSN, APN/CNS, CPON Certification is highly valued and supported at New Mexico Cancer Care Associates (NMCCA), where 86% of the institution s infusion room nurses are OCN -certified nurses. Education breeds excellence, said Carolyn Phillips, RN, BSN, OCN, nurse manager. NMCCA values quality care and understands that having well-educated and knowledgeable staff is essential. Certified nurses at NMCCA who are newly hired receive monetary recognition within their salary range, and established nurses who achieve certification receive raises. NMCCA also provides financial support by covering the examination costs for each nurse. Monetary support is not the only way that NMCCA demonstrates its support of certification. Resources are abundant and include provision of a chemotherapy course and review books for preparation, as well as encouragement for colleagues. I felt most supported by my fellow OCN -certified peers, said Mary Kay Hewitt, RN, BSN, OCN. Their pride and commitment to the oncology profession encouraged me to take the next step. NMCCA supports certification in many other ways. For example, it sends two or three nurses to the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Congress each year. To [help] become OCN -certified, I was provided with the opportunity to apply for an ONS Congress Scholarship. Learning is a way of practice here at NMCCA, said Leslie Wizner, RN, who is new to the institution. Educational opportunities such as Congress provide nurses OCN -certified nurses at New Mexico Cancer Care Associates: (from left) Cindy Narayan, Joyce Rubinfeld, Carolyn Phillips, Mary Kay Hewitt, Doreen Padilla, and Veronica Kirby preparing for the examination additional instruction while simultaneously meeting the continuing education needs of established OCN -certified nurses. Nurses also are encouraged to attend oncology grand rounds to stay current on new initiatives, research, and other topics of interest. NMCCA has implemented a unique venue for team building and stimulating clinical discussions. Each morning, the nursing and pharmacy staff meet to review patients and their treatments for the day. This 30minute conference includes a Question of the Day. The question is prepared by pharmacy staff and covers a wide range of topics, such as the pharmacokinetics of agents, new research, and management of side effects. This innovative, creative opportunity for enhancing ongoing learning demon- strates the supportive environment in which NMCCA excels. Recognition is an important part of the culture, too. Oncology Nursing Week is celebrated with a potluck meal, a festive environment, and gifts for the nurses. Last year, each nurse received a gift certificate for an hour-long massage, further demonstrating NMCCA s understanding of the need for support, including self-care, of the oncology nursing staff. Congratulations to NMCCA for instilling a passion for excellence through certification. Cindy Narayan, RN, OCN, summed up the environment at NMCCA: Working with nurses who were oncology certified watching their expertise in action and being mentored by them was a great incentive to become OCN -certified myself. ONCC Seeks to Honor the CPON of the Year Do you know a CPON who deserves recognition for his or her contributions to pediatric oncology nursing, oncology nursing service, and promotion of certification? ONCC is seeking nominees for the 2008 CPON of the Year Award. Submitting a nomination is a great way to become involved in the process of recognizing CPON s for their special achievements. The recipient will be presented with $1,000 and a crystal award at the Recognition Breakfast for Certified Oncology Nurses at the 2008 Association of Pediatric 5 Hematology/Oncology Nurses Annual Conference, which will be held September 25 27 in Albuquerque, NM. More information and nomination instructions are available at www.oncc.org/ awards/cpon.shtml. Nominations must be received by April 1.
ONCC Names Scofield Winners Sixty-five nurses have been selected to receive a 2008 Roberta Scofield Memorial Certification Award, which provides a free registration for a 2008 certification test or renewal by the Oncology Nursing Certification Points Renewal Option. Applicants had to submit an essay of 250 words or fewer describing how certification would help them achieve their professional goals. The awards are supported by Novartis Oncology and ONCC. Congratulations to the following nurses. Patrice Armbruster, Nevada Elizabeth Arthur, Ohio Elizabeth Arvizu, California Annabelle Baldoza, California Benjamin Becker, Utah Alison Bell, California Mary Kay Blenco, Florida Linda Brunetto, Michigan Theresa Brunner, Texas Arnie Burks, West Virginia Sharon Byrne, New Jersey Kimberly Catania, Ohio Sheila Cesenaro, Maryland Ruth Chamberlain, Virginia Carol Cherry, Pennsylvania Kim Crowe, Florida Amira Deep, Michigan Linda Dial, Tennessee Natalie D Itri, Virginia Denise Dix, New York Sheree Dunn, North Carolina Jessica Fodor, North Carolina Traci Foster, North Carolina Michelle Frazier, Utah Jean Geisick, Colorado Ruth Gholz, Ohio Jody Giannotti, Michigan Keith Gilchrist, District of Columbia Tracy Gosselin, North Carolina Donna Hafner, Virginia Monica Hanvelt, Wisconsin Beverly Hendershot, Wisconsin Jimi Henry, Georgia Patricia Hill, Georgia Eileen Javurek, Indiana Derryel Johnson, Virginia Maura Jones, North Carolina Deborah Leavenworth, Georgia Susan Little, Georgia Madeline Lopez, Texas Susan Massey, New York Susan Merriwether, Florida Shirley Mobley, Ohio Jessica Norrell, South Carolina Judy Norris, Indiana Rebecca O Shea, Texas Janet Pruitt, Florida Rebekah Rabinowitz, Georgia Erin Sandene, Tennessee (See Scofield, page 7) ONCC Honors Institutions Staffed With Certified Nurses ONCC recently awarded recognition plaques to 57 institutions for staffing their facilities with oncology certified nurses. ONCC presents the plaques free of charge to any patient care setting where a majority of the professional nurses (more than 50%) are oncology certified. Plaque request forms are available at www.oncc.org/ awards/plaques.shtml. Congratulations to the following organizations. Adirondack Medical Center, Merrill Cancer Center, in Saranac Lake, NY Cancer Care Associates PC in Royal Oak, MI Cancer Institute of New Mexico/New Mexico Cancer Care, Inc., Infusion Room, in Santa Fe Caritas Holy Family Hospital, William Lane Cancer Management Center, in Methuen, MA Cheshire Medical Center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock, Kingsbury Cancer Center, in Keene, NH Children s Hospital Boston, Hematology/Oncology 6 North, in Massachusetts Christ Hospital, Cancer Center, in Cincinnati, OH Commonwealth Hematology Oncology in Concord, MA Commonwealth Hematology Oncology in Weymouth, MA Corvallis Clinic, Oncology-Hematology, in Oregon Desert Oncology in Mesa, AZ Emerywood Hematology Oncology in High Point, NC Fletcher Allen Health Care, Vermont Cancer Center, in Burlington Franklin Square Hospital Center, Section Surgical Oncology, in Baltimore, MD Georgia Cancer Specialists, DeKalb Office, in Decatur Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, Samaritan Ambulatory Infusion, in Corvallis, OR Hematology-Oncology Centers of the Northern Rockies in Billings, MT Highland Hospital Park Ridge Division, Radiation Oncology, in Rochester, NY Highland Hospital, Radiation Oncology, in Rochester, NY HOPE Center for Cancer Care in Warren, OH Interlakes Oncology and Hematology PC, Brockport Office, in New York Interlakes Oncology and Hematology PC, Geneva Office, in New York Interlakes Oncology and Hematology PC, Park Ridge Office, in Rochester, NY Interlakes Oncology and Hematology PC, White Spruce Office, in Rochester, NY James Care East, at the Ohio State University Hospital East, in Columbus Jones Clinic, Oncology/Hematology, in Germantown, TN Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa, Chemotherapy Infusion Center, in California Kent Hospital, Infusion Unit, in Warwick, RI Kingsport Hematology/Oncology Associates in Tennessee Lakeland Regional Cancer Center in Florida Lancaster Cancer Center in Pennsylvania Lankenau Cancer Center, Mainline Oncology Hematology Associates, in Wynnewood, PA Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Thoracic Oncology Service, in New York, NY Mercy Cancer Care in St. Louis, MO Middlesex Hospital, Cancer Center, in Middletown, CT MultiCare Health System, MultiCare Regional Cancer Center, in Tacoma, WA National Cancer Institute, Medical Oncology Branch National Naval Medical Center, in Bethesda, MD Oncology Wellness Institute in Meadville, PA Overlook Hospital, 3 A/B Oncology, in Summit, NJ Pennsylvania Oncology Hematology Associates, Chemotherapy Unit, in Philadelphia Plaza Medical Center, 6 East Oncology, in Ft. Worth, TX Providence Holy Cross Cancer Center, Radiation Oncology, in Valencia, CA Providence Memorial Hospital, Adult Oncology Infusion Center, in El Paso, TX Regional Cancer Center in Ashtabula, OH Saint Francis Medical Center Cancer Institute, Outpatient Care Center, in Cape Girardeau, MO Saint Francis Medical Center, Cape Medical Oncology, in Cape Girardeau, MO Scotland Cancer Treatment Center in Laurinburg, NC Scripps Green Hospital, Blood and Marrow Transplant Unit, in La Jolla, CA Shenandoah Oncology Associates in Winchester, VA St. Dominic Cancer Center in Jackson, MO Stockton Hematology-Oncology Medical Group in California Sturdy Memorial Hospital, Outpatient Oncology, in Attleboro, MA Suburban Hematology/Oncology in Lawrenceville, GA University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Cancer Centers, Arnold Palmer Pavilion Mountain View, in Greensburg, PA Van Amburg, MD, and Busiek, MD, LLC, in Chesterfield, MO Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Cool Springs, in Franklin, TN Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, All Saints Cancer Center, in Racine, WI 6
Readers Share Certification Compensation Practices The Fall 2007 issue of ONCC News asked, How does your institution financially compensate nurses for attaining certification? Forty-two responses were received from nurses throughout the United States. According to responses, compensation varies widely among institutions, ranging from salary increases and bonuses to no financial rewards at all. The table below summarizes the number of institutions that provide specific financial rewards for certification as reported by respondents. Please note that many institutions provide more than one reward (e.g., test fee reimbursement and a salary increase or bonus). How Do Institutions Financially Compensate Nurses for Obtaining Certification? (N = 42) Tangible Benefits Provided for Certification Monetary bonus/pay differential for attaining initial certification or certification renewal Financial support for test fees/ recertification fees Financial support for study guides and reference materials Paid time off to attend review courses Financial support for review courses and educational programs Certification incorporated into clinical ladder for advancement opportunities Gift presented No reimbursement or monetary incentives provided Number of Institutions Providing Benefit n (%) 19 (45) 19 (45) 2 (5) 2 (5) 4 (9.5) 5 (12) 1 (2) 11 (26) Examples of Benefit One-time bonus for certification ($200 $1,500) Annual bonus for certification ($500 $1,000 per year) Monthly stipend for certification ($100) Hourly raise after attaining certification ($0.50 $1 per hour) 100% reimbursement of test or renewal fees upon passing 50% reimbursement of test or renewal fees upon passing Study materials provided Cost of study materials reimbursed Paid time off to attend certification review courses Reimbursement for costs of continuing nursing education programs for certification preparation or renewal On-site review course Certification awards incorporated into clinical ladder program and tied to financial incentives Certification pin Scofield (Continued from page 6) Aya Sato-DiLorenzo, New York Arleen Schuman, Ohio Theresa Shaffer, Ohio Elizabeth Shea, Maryland Melody Smith, Washington Alicia Snowden, New York Kimberly Stark, Illinois Marcia Stephens, Nebraska Dawn Tiedemann, Connecticut Janelle Tipton, Ohio 7 Theresa Tise, North Carolina Cheri Uehara, Hawaii Holly Williams, California Linda Wills, Nebraska Erin Wyatt, Indiana Danielle Yeager, California
Practice Round Sharpen Your Test-Taking Skills Practice Round offers sample items taken from ONCC practice tests to demonstrate the format of items that can be found on ONCC examinations. The following items were taken from the free AOCNP practice test. The answers, rationales, and references are provided. Please note that these items do not appear on current AOCNP examinations. Because they may be older items, the references cited may have been replaced by more recent versions. When preparing for an ONCC examination, candidates should use the current test blueprint and reference list for the specific examination. A free Web-based practice test is available for each ONCC certification examination at www.oncc.org/practicetests/default.aspx. Additional practice tests also are available for purchase. 1. A patient with uncontrolled cancer pain is placed on a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump. To obtain optimal control of pain, the advanced practice nurse orders a a. Basal rate with a PCA demand dose. b. PCA demand dose with an oral pain supplement. c. Basal rate with a long-acting oral opioid. d. Fentanyl patch with PCA demand dose. Readers Respond How Has Volunteering Benefitted You? ONCC News wants to hear how you have benefitted from becoming involved as a volunteer. Share your responses by e-mail (oncc@ons.org) or fax (412-859-6168). Please mark responses Readers Respond. 2. A 65-year-old is newly diagnosed with a glioblastoma and has been referred to an inpatient rehabilitation program. The most common medical problem is expected to be a. Cardiac disease. b. Seizure. c. Diabetes. d. Deep vein thrombosis. Answers 1. Rationale: For chronic cancer pain, PCA regimens use a basal rate that delivers the bulk of analgesic therapy. Higher demand doses are used to supplement the basal rate therapy. Yarbro, C.H., Frogge, M.H., Goodman, M., & Groenwald, S.L. (Eds.). (2005). Cancer nursing: Principles and practice (6th ed., p. 684). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett. 2. Rationale: Seizure management is the most frequent medical problem encountered during rehabilitation in the brain tumor population, followed by cardiac disease, diabetes, deep vein thrombosis, and genitourinary problems. DeVita, V.T., Jr., Hellman, S., & Rosenberg, S.A. (Eds.). (2004). Cancer: Principles and practice of oncology (7th ed., p. 2,735). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. Where Are We Now? The number of oncology certified nurses is continuing to grow. In 1986, ONCC administered its first certification examination to 1,607 candidates, with 1,384 (86%) passing. As of January 18, 2008, the numbers of certified oncology nurses are as follows. OCN : 21,811 CPON : 1,538 AOCN : 1,224 AOCNP : 495 AOCNS : 204 ONCC Board of Directors Carlton G. Brown, APRN, PhD, AOCN Josephine Visser, RN, BSN, OCN, Vice President Vicki J. Norton, RN, BSN, OCN, Secretary/Treasurer Kathleen Adlard, RN, MN, CPON Carol Brueggen, MS, APRN, BC, AOCNS Julie Earle, RN, BSN, OCN Bertie Ford, RN, MS, AOCN Adele Hammermon, MLA Darla York, RN, BSN, CPON Georgia Decker, MS, RN, CS-ANP, AOCN, Ex Officio Paula Trahan Rieger, RN, MSN, AOCN, FAAN, Ex Officio ONCC Committee Chairs Advanced Practice Test Development Tara Stevenson, RN, MS, AOCN Appeals Donna Betcher, RN, MSN, CPON CPON Test Development Ruth Landers, RN, MSN, CPNP, CPON Nominating JoAnn Coleman, RN, MS, AOCN, ACNP OCN Test Development Tamara G. Barnes, RN, MSN, OCN, AOCN ONCC News Editorial Board Heather Mackey, RN, MSN, ANP, AOCN, Chair Carol Brueggen, RN, MS, APRN-BC, AOCNS Mark Flitcraft, RN, MSN, OCN Janice Nuuhiwa, MSN, APN/CNS, CPON Michael Smart, RN, BSN, OCN National Office Staff ONCC Paula T. Rieger, RN, MSN, AOCN, FAAN, Chief Executive Officer Cynthia Miller Murphy, RN, MSN, CAE, Executive Director Mary Wozny, BS, Certification Operations Manager Pamela Asfahani, BS, Product Manager Annette Parry Bush, RN, BSN, MBA, OCN, Certification Programs Manager Christina Mermon, Executive Assistant Joyce Mills, Certification Specialist Susan Bachner, Certification Specialist Joyce Altenhof, Customer Service Representative ONS Publishing Division Len Mafrica, MBA, CAE, Publisher Anne Snively, BS, Managing Editor Mike Minjock, BS, Production Manager Keightley Amen, BA, Staff Editor ONCC Mission Statement The mission of the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation is to promote and provide oncology nursing certification for the enhancement of patient care and professional practice. The Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation was established for the development, administration, and evaluation of a program for certification in oncology nursing. Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation, 125 Enterprise Dr., Pittsburgh, PA 15275-1214 (877-769-ONCC or 412-859-6104, phone; 412-859-6168, fax; oncc@ons.org, e-mail; www.oncc.org, Web site) 8