Congress Abstracts 2003

14

DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING A CONSULTATIVE SERVICE FOR NURSES PURSUING OCN^® CERTIFICATION. Norma Sheridan-Leos, RN, MSN, AOCN^®, CPHQ, Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute at Memorial Health, Savannah, GA.

Background: Oncology nursing certification is a means to enhance professional practice and patient care; however, many oncology nurses do not seek certification. This poster will describe how a CNS developed and implemented a consultation service for nurses who wanted to prepare for the OCN^® exam.

Interventions: A community cancer center had valued oncology nursing certification as evidenced by a yearly bonus for each year a nurse maintained oncology certification, and management staff members were certified. None of the inpatient nursing staff had current certification. The CNS surveyed all eligible staff to determine the reasons for not seeking certification. Two reasons cited most often were fear of failure and lack of continuing education hours. After reviewing consultation theory, the CNS devised a consultation service for all staff eligible for certification. The CNS worked with each nurse on a one-to-one basis to assist the nurse in devising a personal study plan. The CNS developed a tracking tool to monitor each nurse’s progress. The organization purchased practice exams; these were used to diagnosis areas for further education. The CNS developed formal and informal educational offerings for the staff and utilized free or low cost continuing education that met identified learning needs. The organization also supported the staff by allowing the nurses to attend these educational events during duty time. The CNS followed up with each nurse at predetermined intervals.

Interpretation: Thirty-five percent of the eligible staff have registered to take the OCN^® test in September 2002. Twenty three percent of the inpatient staff nurses have signed up for the consultative service in preparation for the 2003 certification test.

Discussion: So that other institutions can develop a similar program, this poster will detail 1) activities that best supported the staff, 2) percent of staff that passed the 2002 test, and 3) tracking tool.