What's in store for 2022? Upcoming CPC Assessment Testing Windows, Longitudinal Assessment Research Study Planned
CRNANews
December 2021 | Vol. 20
IN THIS ISSUE:
NBCRNA Communications Survey: Results are In! Key Findings and Next Steps
Longitudinal Assessment Research Planned for 2022
Continued Professional Certification Assessment (CPCA) 2022 Testing Windows
Warm Wishes from the NBCRNA!
NBCRNA Communications Survey
Key Findings and Next Steps
NBCRNA supports lifelong learning in the profession. In doing so, we want to be sure that CRNAs have the knowledge and insight needed to obtain and maintain their credential and practice safely and effectively.
Over the last several months, some CRNAs have contacted us or shared on social media their ideas, frustrations, and concerns about our communications, especially around the CPC credentialing processes. We wanted to dig deeper to learn more about how NBCRNA can more effectively meet your needs.
In August, we teamed up with Jascula Terman Strategic Communications of Chicago, to conduct an assessment of our communications. As a result, we invited all NBCRNA certificants to participate in an online survey focused specifically on communications, including What, How and When you want to hear from us. Nearly 2,000 CRNAs responded from all geographic and demographic sectors.
Professional survey researchers use 1,000 participants, from a group as large as ours, as a strong baseline for response on similar national surveys. You can read a topline summary of the survey findings here.
Based on the feedback received, here are some key findings and actions we are taking:
Key Findings and Actions we are taking
1. CRNAs want us to sharpen our focus and share information only about the credentialing process -- in simple, concise, and very clear communications. In response, we will be working to present our messaging as you have requested.
2. Our web-presence needs a spiff-up. The website is the first place many CRNAs go when seeking information about the credentialing process, so our website needs to be easier to navigate. Informed by this knowledge we plan to complete a major overhaul of our website, initiating this revamp by the second quarter of 2022. Our main goals will be streamlining content, removing extraneous material, and making it easier for you to find what you are looking for. A more substantial overhaul later in FY'22 will follow some quick-win improvements in 2022.
3. CRNAs shared that their home email and our e-newsletter are the preferred channels for any needed communications. We're glad to hear this and we'll keep these channels open.
4. Timing is important to CRNAs. Generally, CRNAs want to be notified within three months of a needed action, with appropriate reminders. This insight was some of the direct feedback we received through the survey and has helped us adjust the timing of our messages.
5. Individualized or personalized information about credentialing status beyond what is currently available on the CRNA Portal would also be useful and appreciated. In response, we are exploring opportunities to deliver this content through targeted distribution, email content strategies and increased portal functionality.
We greatly appreciate those who took the time to respond. CRNAs will see some important changes to NBCRNA's communications in the near future based on the valuable input provided.
As always, please keep us informed of your needs by contacting us at info@nbcrna.com.
The NBCRNA has communicated our commitment to the evaluation of our assessment assessment processes regularly, which includes elements of the Continued Professional Certification (CPC) program. We want to ensure that our tools best serve the needs of the CRNA profession to promote patient safety and enhance provider quality.
To that end, next year, NBCRNA will initiate a new research study to explore the potential of longitudinal assessment. Longitudinal assessment, as compared to a single large test, processes the ability to spread shorter assessments of specific content over a long period of time to help build understanding, knowledge and confidence.
We believe our upcoming research study reflects yet another component in our review of alternate modes of evaluation. The CPC assessment will continue to be a requirement for CRNA renewal through at least 2024/2025 regardless of the outcome of this research study.
Our research study will begin in February, by recruiting participants. We anticipate study enrollment be completed by March and expect to launch our study in April. The research study duration will be twelve months, followed by a thorough review and analysis. After the analysis is complete, we plan to assess the future viability of a longitudinal assessment approach.
Continuing education with assessment supports lifelong learning and enhances our professional standing by providing important external validation of the expertise CRNAs possess to patients, regulators and employers. The NBCRNA is committed to always employing the best tools to support these critical goals.
Continue to watch for updates. The NBCRNA CEO will share more details after the start of the new year.
If you are in your second CPC cycle, you are now eligible to take the CPC Assessment (CPCA) during any open window. All CRNAs are required to complete the CPCA to maintain their credential.
To access your CPC Assessment application, visit the NBCRNA Portal. All applications are accepted on a rolling basis. CRNAs must first process their applications in order to schedule an assessment. The 2022 testing windows will occur during February, July, and November. All windows will provide candidates with an option for either an in-person assessment through Pearson Vue or live remote proctoring through PSI.