The Value of Oncology Nursing Certification: Indications Based in Research

Carlton G. Brown, PhD, RN, AOCN®

Immediate Past-PresidentOncology Nursing Certification Corp.

ONCC Mission & Vision

• Our Mission-to promote and provide oncology nursing certification for the enhancement of patient care and professional practice

• Our Vision--Oncology care across the continuum will be provided by oncology certified professionals

Certificants• OCN®—21,114 • CPON®—1,346• AOCN®-1,317 • AOCNP--384 • AOCNS-154

24,000 Oncology Certified Nurses!!!

American Board Of Nursing Specialties

Value of CertificationStudy

Study Purposes

• Perceptions on the value of certified nursing

• Challenges and barriers to certification• Benefits and rewards to nurses for

certification• Impact of certification on lost workdays• Impact of certification on nurse retention

Survey Methods

• The survey incorporated the Perceived Value of Certification Tool (PVCT)©– It is a reliable tool – Incorporates 18 certification-related value

statements – Using a five-point Likert scale response

• Additional questions included demographic items and research priorities

• Twenty ABNS member organizations participated in the study--ONCC

ONCC Participation

• Total sample = 935• Response Rate

– Certified Nurses--751– Non-Certified Nurses--184

Sample Characteristics

• Gender—97% Female, 3% Male• Age—54 years old• Race/ethnicity—90% Caucasian, 3% African

American, Hispanic 2%, Asian 2%, Other 3%• Salary--$60,000-69,000• Highest degree held—Associate 20%, BSN

38%, MSN 18%, PhD 1%• Role—Staff Nurse 36%, APN 10%, Nurse

Manager, 19%, Educator 6%, Administrator 3%

Sample Characteristics• Work setting—Hospital 39%, Outpatient

32%, Private Office 14%, Private Industry 2%, Academia 2%

• Years in Nursing—21.33• Years in Nursing Prior to Certification--7.86• Certification mandatory or voluntary

– Mandatory 15%– Voluntary 85%– Mandatory for advancement 2%– Voluntary for Advancement 4%

Perceived Value of Certification – strong agreement on value statements

Value Statement % Strongly Agree and Agree

Enhances feeling of personal accomplishment 98.7%

Validates specialized knowledge 97.9%

Provides personal satisfaction 97.5%

Enhances professional credibility 96.2%

Provides professional challenge 96.2%

Indicates professional growth 95.9%

Indicates attainment of a practice standard 95.0%

Perceived Value of Certification (cont.)

Value Statement % Strongly Agree and Agree

Enhances personal confidence in clinical abilities

90.5%

Promotes recognition from peers 90.4%

Provides evidence of accountability 88.8%

Increases marketability 87.7%

Promotes recognition from other health professionals

87.6%

Increases consumer confidence 84.1%

Indicates level of clinical competence 83.6%

Enhances professional autonomy 82.0%

Increases salary 39.5%

Certified nurses perceive certification:

• Enhances feeling of personal accomplishment

• Validates specialized knowledge• Provides personal satisfaction• Enhances professional credibility

• But doesn’t necessarily:– Increase salary

Challenges and Barriers

The top three barriers that preventedoncology nurses who had not been certified from being certified:

1. Cost of Exam2. Lack of Institutional Reward & Support3. Discomfort with test-taking process

Let Certification Lapse

The top three reasons an oncology certified nurse let certification lapse:

1. No longer practiced in the specialty2. Inadequate or no compensation for

certification3. The fee for renewal

Benefits and RewardsThe top four incentives institutions offer topromote and recognize certification:

1. Reimbursement for continuing education

2. Paid time off for attending continuing education

3. Reimbursement for recertification fees

4. Credentials on nametag/business card

Benefits and Rewards (continued)

• Employer offered:

– Increase in salary for certification—18% (All organizations--12%)

– Reimbursement for exam fees—48% – Paid time off for taking exam—19%– No incentives—18%

Impact of Certification on Lost Workdays

• Respondent absences ranged from 0 to 30 days due to illness in the last 12 months

• Number of absences was, on average, 2 days per year for both certified and non-certified nurses

• There was no statistically significant difference in absences between certified and non-certified nurses (p=0.8)

Study Findings

• Perceptions on the value of nursing• Challenges and barriers• Benefits and rewards• Impact of certification on lost workdays• Impact of certification on nurse retention

Summary of Study• There were high levels of agreement

among certified nurses and non-certified nurses that certification is greatly valued

• Certified nurses do agree with a majority of the certification value statements (at a level of statistical significance p<.01)

• Certification is a valuable method for nurses to differentiate themselves in the workplace

Summary (continued)

• Health care organizations continue to offer certification incentives to attract and retain professional, certified nurses

• Yet, nurses continue to face challenges and barriers to obtain and maintain certification

• The results of this survey validate the meaningful value that can be derived from certification