Congress Abstracts 2006

75

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS TO ONCOLOGY CERTIFICATION: ONE HOSPITAL'S STORY. Erin Shonkwiler, RN, MSN, AOCN^®, Saint Luke's Cancer Institute, Kansas City, MO.

Oncology certification is a reflection of excellence and quality of cancer care. It is a critical aspect of professional development for oncology nurses and promotes lifelong learning and commitment. Certification is increasingly becoming a community standard among institutions as well as consumers.

Barriers to attaining certification include: lack of mentorship, knowledge of certification benefits, adequate learning tools and opportunities, value by the individual and institution, financial resources and, of course, time constraints.

The purpose of this project is to promote oncology certification in our institution by creating a process that would facilitate certification for oncology nurses.

One of the most prevalent barriers was lack of financial resources. Our administration decided to reimburse for the costs of the test and a one-year membership to ONS, regardless of whether the nurse passed or failed the test. Each nurse also attended a two-day intensive oncology review course, with the cost of the class and their time paid by our institution. As the oncology CNS, I provided one-on-one mentorship to each individual on the testing process, assessing their strengths and weaknesses according to the test blueprint, developing a study plan and reviewing test questions. Nurses were provided with oncology review books and access to online resources as well as the core curriculum and study guide. The institution also promoted the value of certification by presenting each nurse with a certification pin during a ceremony during nurse's week and putting up pictures of certified nurses in patient care areas. We are also planning to have an annual recognition celebration for all oncology certified nurses.

This process was developed in 2004 and since then 18 nurses have taken the certification exam with 17 successfully passing. This represents almost 30% of our nurses with a total of almost 60% of nurses currently having their oncology certification.

Oncology certification is a mark of excellence and makes a difference in the lives and care of patients, families, employers, nurses and the public. By assuring individual and institutional support and value, we have successfully implemented a process to break down these common barriers.