Nurse Portfolio Credentialing Commission Board (NPCC)
ISONG has initiated a call for action and asked for volunteers to collaborate on a new certification program. A separate entity, the Nurse Portfolio Credentialing Commission (NPCC) has been created to address this need for genetic certification. We are delighted to introduce the NPCC Board and personal statements about their commitment to this initiative. Monthly updates about their important work and progress will be posted on this webpage so check back often.
NPCC Board Members
| |
President
Julia Ann Eggert PhD, GNP, BC, AGN-BC, AOCN, FAAN
“Genetics is emerging as a specialty knowledge that affects all nurses. ISONG needs to show our commitment to excellence through certification.”
|
| |
Treasurer
Lori S. Farmer, ARNP, MSN, MS, AGN-BC
"Exceptional quality health care requires nurses that possess the basic or advanced education and skills necessary to meet the needs of the patients, families, and communities they serve. Genetics credentialing in nursing ensures that established benchmarks and standards are rigorously met, so that the public can be confident in the quality of competent genetic care they will receive from a certified provider."
|
| |
Secretary
Alice S. Kerber, MN, APRN, ACNS-BC, AOCN, AGN-BC
“Genomics Nurse Credentialing is vital to our credibility, accountability and professionalism. As this rapidly growing field becomes more a part of all health care specialties, it is our responsibility to maintain our knowledge and clinical competence. Transparency and consistent criteria for credentialing can only enhance the desire for the credential and the respect of our colleagues. I have been committed to this initiative as I feel it is of utmost importance as we collaborate with colleagues of all disciplines and personalize the care we give our clients, patients, and families.”
|
| |
Advanced Practice Representative
Stacy Hines-Dowell, DNP, AGN-BC, FNP-BC
"The rapidly evolving technologies and advances in research surrounding Genomic Medicine place nurses in a unique position of translating genetics and genomics into clinical care. Obtaining Genomic Nurse Credentials signifies that nurses are practicing with the highest level of competency, knowledge, and skill while providing optimal patient care.”
|
| |
Baccalaureate Practice Representative
Susan V. Montgomery, BSN, OCN, GCN
"Genetic credentialing is important for nurses to quantify our experience, education and knowledge as we care for patients and their families with complex genetic disorders and genomic variants."
|
| |
Member At Large
Tinamarie Bauman, RN, MSN, APN, AGN-BC, ARNP
"Rapid advances in genetic technology have provided access to an enormous amount of genetic information than ever before, but patients often don’t know what to do with the information and need assistance to decipher. Genomics Nurse Credentialing is an important safeguard for patients and their families because it protects them against those who are not qualified to provide this essential service. The genomics indications and demands are increasing at an alarming rate. Credentialing assures that nurses in the field of genetics are staying up-to-date on the latest advances in the field."
|
Goals and ActivitiesNovember 2018 Report
1) Board of directors and bylaws being finalized for new credentialing body- Nurse Portfolio Credentialing Commission (NPCC)
2) Information booth at Congress was a great success with new brochure and criteria for masters and baccalaureate level genomics nursing credentials.
3) Link to brochure
4) Target date for acceptance of first time credential applications Spring 2019.
5) Renewals for AGN-BC and GCN still available through ANCC.
August 2018 Report
- ISONG Certification Task Force met for a two day conference in Pittsburgh, PA on August 20-21, 2018 in order to finalize recommendations to the ISONG Board of Directors.
- ANCC continues to provide only renewal certification for both AGN-BC and GCN credentials and retain the trademarks for those credentials
- Recommendations were made to the Board concerning the following:
a. Name of new entity and new Board of Directors to oversee Certification and Credentials
b. Names of credentials - at this time, the recommendation is to continue graduate level credential and bachelors’ level credentials. Once these are in place, an additional credential focusing on education and research will be discussed further.
c. Criteria for each credential
d. Fees and length of time for credentials
e. Electronic portfolio platforms were reviewed for needs for genetics credential and evaluation continues outside of the meeting.
f. New Board will be named by the ISONG Board to lead the new entity and be in place by October ISONG Congress
g. Communications with membership was discussed.
Task Force Recommendations will be discussed at next ISONG Board of Directors meeting in September.
Submitted by Alice Kerber, MN, APRN, ACNS-BC, AOCN, AGN-BC
akerber@outlook.com
Certification Task Force Leader
March 15, 2018 Report
- A transition team has been formed from those who expressed interest at the 2017 Congress with four subgroups:
a. Credentialing standards
b. E-portfolios
c. GCN criteria
d. AGN/APNG criteria
- Alice Kerber will serve as the Task Force ISONG Liaison
- Monthly meetings to achieve rapid progress toward goal
- Estimated Timeline for establishing new credential – Fall 2018
April 26, 2018 Report:
- APNG group is continuing fact finding related to renewals/transition pathway, expanding credential to allow researchers, educators, international members
- GCN group has reviewed the criteria and considering needs assessment to determine interest in this level credential
- E-portfolio group is evaluating costs of systems/platforms and impact related to extent of credential
- Credentialing group has reviewed accreditation standards and is planning to send member to specific conference about criteria for implementing a certification program
In general…
Portfolio is the planned mechanism for credentialing in order to meet needs of the diversity of practice and specialties. Testing is not currently an option.
Preference is to design a new entity to oversee credentialing and not align with a specialty organization.
Criteria for credentialing will be based on Scope and Standards of Genetics/Genomics Nursing Practice and Core Competencies for genetics nursing similar to those previously designed by GNCC and ANCC.
Expect monthly updates on the ISONG website on this page
If you have any questions or concerns or want to get more involved, please contact akerber@outlook.com
| | |
