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Purpose

The purpose of the Coalition for Nursing Certification Research (CNCR) is to:

Advance safety and improve the process and quality of care. The purpose of research in this area is to investigate and demonstrate the link or relationship between certification and processes of care, quality of care, and safety. Studies should focus on collecting data to explore and delineate outcomes and impacts of certified practice compared to non-certified practice on: 

  • better outcomes or processes of care; 
  • patient satisfaction and or,
  • performance outcomes.

Certification Summit I: 

In March of 2016, the American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS), a not-for-profit membership organization focused on improving patient outcomes and consumer protection through specialty nursing certification, convened a gathering of healthcare leaders in Las Vegas of to discuss the value of certification in healthcare practice. From the meeting of more than 100 healthcare professionals (A National Convening- The Value of Certification) four primary benefits of certification emerged. 

  1. Improves recruitment and retention/employment and job prospects. 
  2. Recognized as validation of knowledge in the specialty. 
  3. Improves culture, improves job satisfaction, empowerment, and confidence. 
  4. Advances safety, improves processes of care and quality of care. 

Follow-up: 

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the credentialing arm of the American Nurses Association (ANA), commissioned an independent scoping review study. A research team was developed to identify how certification was conceptualized within North American nursing literature. Several articles were written summarizing the process and outcomes of the review. 

Chappell, K., ElChamaa, R., Jeong, D., Kendall-Gallagher, D., Salk, E., Reeves, S., … & Kitto, S. (2018). Conceptualization and operationalization of certification in the US and Canadian nursing literature. The Journal of Nursing Administration, 48(5), 238-246. DOI: 10.1097/NNA.0000000000000608

ElChamaa, R., Jeong, D., Chappell, K., Lundmark, V., & Kitto, S. (2019). Constructing a sensitizing definition of certification in nursing. The Journal of Nursing Administration, 49(1), 1-3. DOI: 10.1097/NNA.0000000000000697

Chappell, K., Jeong, D., ElChamaa, D., Lundmark, V., Kendall-Gallagher, D., Salk, E., … & Kitto, S. (2019). Constructing a sensitizing definition of certification in nursing for research purposes: A hybrid methodology using consensus-building approach. The Journal of Nursing Administration, 49(1), 12-18. DOI: 10.1097/NNA.0000000000000701

The following definition was reached and proposes as the single sensitizing definition of certification in nursing. 

Certification in nursing acts as a mechanism for validation or formal recognition by documenting individual nurses’ knowledge, skills, and abilities specific to their specialty. To become certified, nurses are required to meet predetermined eligibility criteria and achieve standards identified by a nursing specialty, including sufficient practical experience and passing a certification examination that provides external validation of knowledge and judgement. The intended outcome of certification in nursing is to validate competence with the overall goal of improving safety, quality of care, and health outcomes for people who use healthcare services. (Chappell et al., 2019, p15-16).

Certification Summit II: 

In May of 2019, the ANA convened another gathering of more than 100 healthcare professionals. Summit participants chose to focus on priority area #4: 

Advances safety, improves processes of care and quality of care. The purpose of research in this area is to investigate and demonstrate the link/relationship between certification and processes of care, quality of care and safety. Studies should focus on collecting data to explore and delineate outcomes and impacts of certified practice compared to non-certified practice on: (1) better outcomes or processes of care; (2) patient satisfaction and/or (3) performance outcomes.

The goals for this Certification Summit were three-fold. 
  1. to review results of the scoping review study of certification in nursing launched in 2016
  2. to prioritize certification research questions
  3. to develop support strategies for research on certification in nursing

Discussion occurred and collectively identified multiple barriers which have stalled efforts to advance the science and research into certification in nursing. 

Certification Summit II Outcomes: 

Through a collaborative and iterative process, attendees also committed to the following: 

  1. Establish a governance structure, charter, objectives, and volunteers
  2. Outline research strategies and data sources 
  3. Explore funding and resources
Please click here for a summary of the proceedings from the Certification Summit II.

Administration

  • Administrative home: Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma)
  • Administrator: Matthew S. Howard, DNP, RN, CEN, CPEN, CPN (cncr@sigmanursing.org) 
  • Program Specialist: Samantha Martin, BA (cncr@sigmanursing.org) 

Steering Committee

  • Term: Two (2) years.
  • Term limit: Eligible for second consecutive term.
  • For the initial launch, three (3) people will be randomly selected to serve a 3-year term to promote continuity, and the balance of steering committee members will be assigned to a 2-year term. Each member will be eligible for a second 2-year term.
  • Initial steering committee members will be solicited from the interested stakeholders and appointed by the Administrator.
  • The steering committee will be comprised of five (5) elected volunteer members comprised from population of interested stakeholders.
    • Nominations will be submitted to Sigma annually or on an as needed basis. The slate of nominees will be presented to the steering committee by the Administrator. Voting will be by majority. No more than one (1) volunteer per organization may participate as steering committee member at same time.
  • Role of steering committee members:  Function as subject matter experts/resource to the Administrator. Develop agenda items for regularly scheduled conference calls and meetings.
  • One member of the steering committee will be elected as Chair. The Chair will serve one 2-year term. The Chair will be selected by majority vote of the steering committee members. The Chair will be supported by the program administrator and staff.
  • Steering committee members, as volunteers, are expected to be supported by a sponsoring organization or able to participate independently to include but not limited to time committed to work, travel, incidental expenses.
  • To apply for the Steering Committee, mark the appropriate box on the Membership Form.

Coalition Membership

  • Any interested stakeholder may participate in Coalition.
  • Membership list including contact information will be housed with the Administrator.
  • Members are expected to participate in and contribute to discussions via conference call or meetings.
  • To join the coalition, please complete the Membership Form (link below).

The charter of the CNCR is to advance the body of evidence in nursing certification research using the sensitizing definition.

“Certification in nursing acts as a mechanism for validation or formal recognition by documenting individual nurses’ knowledge, skills, and abilities specific to their specialty. To become certified, nurses are required to meet predetermined eligibility criteria and achieve standards identified by a nursing specialty, including sufficient practical experience and passing a certification examination that provides external validation of knowledge and judgement. The intended outcome of certification in nursing is to validate competence with the overall goal of improving safety, quality of care, and health outcomes for people who use healthcare services” (Chappell et al., 2019, p15-16).

 

From time to time, ad hoc committees may be formed by consensus of group members or at the request of the Administrator. Ad hoc committees currently standing include:

Governance Committee

Role of the Governance Committee: 

  • Develop ongoing administrative structure to the Coalition. 
  • Provide an opportunity for interested stakeholders to collaborate and advance the science of certification research. Activities may include but are not limited to:
    • Developing new funding opportunities.
    • Sharing existing funding opportunities.
    • Consultation regarding research topics/strategies.
    • Developing new presentations or publications.
    • Sharing presentations or publications that may be of interest to members.

Funding Committee

  •  Role of the Funding Committee: 
    • With guidance from the steering committee, the American Nurses Foundation (ANF), and Sigma, develop and recommend a strategy to seek funding and award grants that will support the certification research; and
    • Create an inventory of funders for the steering committee to reach out to.
  • Strategies for seeking funding and resources
    • Present the project idea to the Tri-Council for Nursing and generate their support
    • Crowdfunding: to raise small amounts of money from a large number of people/organizations
    • Lobby for and post calls for seed grants and funds
    • Identify individuals/accreditors/universities/other organizations interested in certification
    • Add certification to ANF/Sigma Foundation/others research agenda
    • Work with the associations to reach out to specific universities 
    • Identify large health systems that may be interested in data collection
    • Partner with technology companies that can assist with data collection, analysis, and dissemination 

Research Methodologies and Data Committee

  • Role of the Research Methodologies and Data Committee
    • To assist in identifying trends, opportunities, challenges, and needs related to existing and emerging research in nursing certification
    • Promotes dissemination and shared learning related to nursing certification 
  • Strategies for initial Coalition research 
    • Start with accredited voluntary certification (instead of APRN certification)
    • Begin developing common data elements
    • Collate and review existing attributes of certifications across certifying organizations (e.g., methods, requirements, types, KSA), concentrate on initial versus re-certification and requirements for certification
    • Generate research questions and methods to be prioritized using Needleman et al. (2014) model published as Figure 2-2 in the IOM Future directions of credentialing research in nursing: Workshop summary (2015)
    • Organize the process of broad stakeholder engagement

The function of the CNCR is to provide an opportunity for interested stakeholders to collaborate and advance the science of certification research. Activities may include but are not limited to:

  • Developing new funding opportunities.
  • Sharing existing funding opportunities.
  • Consultation regarding research topics/strategies.
  • Developing new presentations or publications. 
  • Sharing presentations or publications that may be of interest to members.

To join the Coalition for Nursing Certification Research, please submit your membership information.

 

Submit Membership Information