Abstract
BACKGROUND: The Orthopaedic Nurses Certification Board (ONCB) conducts a role delineation study (RDS), also known as a job task analysis, every 5 years. Results identify tasks performed by orthopaedic registered nurses and nurse practitioners, as well as musculoskeletal health conditions commonly experienced by their patients.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to define current practice patterns among orthopaedic nurses and nurse practitioners to determine content for future certification examinations.
METHOD: An online survey methodology was used to identify task and knowledge statements representative of orthopaedic nursing practice.
FINDINGS: Of 6,462 e-mails sent, 904 valid responses were returned (response rate 13.9%). This is lower than results of the Orthopaedic Nurses Certification Board's 2010 RDS (22.7% response rate) but is considered acceptable for an RDS.
CONCLUSION: Survey results were analyzed by ONCB Test Committee members with guidance from psychometric staff at PSI/AMP. PSI/AMP staff were used to review and revise examination specifications for the Orthopaedic Nurse Certified (ONC) and Orthopaedic Nurse Practitioner-Certified (ONP-C) certification programs. New examination specification and passing points were implemented with April 2018 testing.