This is my last letter from the president as my term has come to an end; therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the board of directors: Darlene Jumpp, Sheri Levin, Jacquie Frazee, Christine Brajkovich, and Shay Stephens from the national office. As a board, we faced many trials and tribulations over the past 3 years; because of these trials, we have grown stronger and have elevated the re-certification process to a higher level. I know that the board will continue to carry on, keeping in mind the importance of re-certification and the necessity of the requirement for plastic surgery specific contact hours.
As a certified plastic surgical nurse (CPSN), you are demonstrating your excellence in the field. With that in mind, the expectation is that you must earn contact hours that pertain to the specialty; remember, I did not say specific to your practice. Many nurses work in the operating room and belong to the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN); I commend you for that, however, most of the offerings at an AORN convention are not related to plastic surgery and those credits do not count toward the plastic surgery specific contact hours. As an example, "The Care of Ophthalmic Instruments," "Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification," and "Sterilization Techniques" do not apply as plastic surgery specific; they are acceptable as your general nursing content. Another example is in the care of bariatric surgery patients. "The Care of the Bariatric Surgery Patient" does not apply. Even though some plastic surgery practices are now including a weight loss program in the services they offer, content such as "Weight Loss Management" is not plastic surgery specific. It becomes specific plastic surgery content when you attend a course on "Body Contouring After Bariatric Surgery."
We are a specialty, and in order to be recognized as a specialist in our field, we must hold our standards in check. The requirements are outlined on the Web site for all to review anytime during the 3-year cycle. It is the responsibility of each and every one of us to know the requirements for re-certification. If there is a question regarding a particular course, please contact one of the board members or Shay Stephens at the national office.
We receive inquiries regarding CME contact hours. Generally, CMEs do not include nursing content, and there needs to be nursing content to receive credit for a course. Our specialty is nursing. There are some circumstances that contact hours are granted for CMEs, however; approval from the board is required. Board approval is for each individual course, not a blanket approval for any CME course attended.
Last year the board reviewed the CPSN examination, which must be reviewed every 5 years. Each question is reviewed, some are eliminated, some are rewritten, and new questions are developed as advances evolve in nursing, medicine, and technology.
We now have all of the re-certification information on the Web, which means we have "gone GREEN." Rather than sending out an entire packet for renewal, members download only the pages needed to complete the re-certification process. Our hope and goal is to eventually do everything online. This is something that the board will continue to pursue. A long-range goal is for certification by an accrediting agency; however, that is many years in the offing. Our membership is too small, and the cost is approximately $30,000.00 just to start the delineation study. One must have goals and dreams, so I would like to keep that as a long-term goal.
Again, I would like to thank the board for their hard work and dedication. I have so enjoyed working with all of you and the entire membership at large. I have had the opportunity to talk to numerous nurses regarding certification. What a relief to have our third edition of the Core Curriculum!! There were several years of trying to loan "The Core" so people could study for the examination. My hat is off to those of you who took the examination in the years we were without an updated Core.
We all have different ways of learning...for me, I know I am a terrible test taker. I was in the first class of taking the CPSN examination, so I didn't have the advantage of the refresher course, the Core was my bible for a good 6 months. My advice is to study the Core, know your strengths and weaknesses, study your weakness, take the refresher course, study some more, and then take the examination. I know many of you would say study, take the refresher course, and then take the examination. Remember, the examination covers all areas of plastic surgery, not just your practice setting. You need to know adults, pediatrics, reconstructive, cosmetic, office, operating room, and floor nursing. For those of you contemplating your CPSN, just do it!! Purchase the Core and start studying, obtain an application for the examination, apply for one of the scholarships that Allergen Academy offers, and take the examination.
Sue Kunz, BS, RN, CPSN
PSNCB President