News

5/6/10
Happy National Nurses Week!

Congratulations to all nursing professionals during National Nurses Week, May 6 - 12, 2010!

4/15/10
Changes for 2011 Recert

Changes are underway that will make PNCB Recert even more flexible by offering more options, plus a Recert Tracker to archive CE any time from any source. Learn More>>

4/14/10
Child & Adolescent Behavioral & Mental Health Exam Update

The content outline and eligibility recommendations for this upcoming specialty certification exam are now available. Learn More>>

4/13/10
Distinguished CPEN™ Award

The PNCB and BCEN will present the first annual Distinguished CPEN Award to one individual who has demonstrated outstanding support for certification in pediatric emergency nursing. Learn More>> The due date for this opportunity has passed. Please check back in early 2011 for next year's award information.

4/12/10
Acute Care Exam Role Delineation Study Complete

The PNCB is pleased to announce the completion of national role delineation research to update our Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (AC-PNP) national qualifying exam. To learn more about this research and proposed updates to the exam, visit our CPNP-AC content outline page.

3/23/10
PNCB Spring Peeps!

We hope you enjoy "peeping" at our diorama to represent three practice settings and to celebrate spring.

1/15/10
PNCB Hosts Pediatric Nursing Invitational Forum

On November 11 and 12, the PNCB hosted the first-ever Invitational Forum for Pediatric Nursing, bringing together thought leaders from other pediatric nursing organizations and major children's hospitals to address the issues facing our profession and the health care needs of children and their families.

To learn more about this landmark event and view the video, visit www.pnif.org where we will soon post updates. A white paper about the outcomes of the forum will be posted there as well in the coming months.

10/28/09
Extended Deadline: Certification Advocate Awards

The PNCB is calling for nominations for the PNCB Certification Advocate Awards. These annual awards recognize a CPN, a CPNP-PC, and a CPNP-AC who are outstanding advocates for certification at a local/hospital level, regional or national level. Self nominations are accepted. To apply, send a completed Advocate Award Application (Word) to pncb@pncb.org by December 30, 2009 (new deadline).

12/10/09
Response to AMA's NP Scope of Practice Module

The PNCB participated with other national nurse practitioner organizations to create a unified response to the American Medical Association Scope of Practice Data Series on NPs, and we invite you to read the letter produced and sent to the AMA.

11/23/09
Child & Adolescent Behavioral & Mental Health Exam Survey

If your practice as an APRN includes identification and management of the primary care behavioral and mental health needs of children and adolescents, we encourage you to take our role delineation study survey as we look to design of the content outline of the new Child and Adolescent Behavioral and Mental Health Exam.

11/10/09
Shipping of SAEs

Self-Assessment Exercises began shipping the week of 11/9/09 and will ship every 2 weeks after this initial ship date for future Recert orders.

10/28/09
Certification Advocate Awards

The PNCB is calling for nominations for the PNCB Certification Advocate Awards. These annual awards recognize a CPN, a CPNP-PC, and a CPNP-AC who are outstanding advocates for certification at a local/hospital level, regional or national level. Self nominations are accepted. To apply, send a completed Advocate Award Application (Word) to pncb@pncb.org by December 30, 2009.

10/27/09
Item Writer Workshop at 2010 NAPNAP

The PNCB invites Primary Care and Acute Care CPNPs to sign up for this pre-conference activity to be held 4/14/10 from 9 AM to 5 PM. If you are actively involved in clinical practice for more than 20 hours per week, we encourage you to contact llightfoot@pncb.org to learn more about sharing your expertise or register. The PNCB will provide one night's lodging, CE, and Recert credit. NAPNAP registration is separate from this event.

10/25/09
The Arthritis Foundation Meets at PNCB Office

The Arthritis Foundation would like to thank the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board for the generous donation of conference room space to support leadership meetings for Arthritis volunteers. The Arthritis Foundation values and honors the contributions of pediatric nurses and pediatric nurse practitioners as they care for children and their families experiencing the pain and debilitation of rheumatologic and other arthritis diseases.

Juvenile arthritis is one of the most common childhood diseases in the United States, and affects more than 300,000 children in the U.S. under the age of 18. For more information about the important work of the Arthritis Foundation, visit www.arthritis.org.

Janet S. Wyatt, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAANP, PNCB CEO and Jack Klippel, MD, Arthritis Foundation President and CEO

Members of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Board of the Arthritis Foundation from MD, VA, DC, NC and SC

10/22/09
Janet S. Wyatt, PNCB CEO, Elected ICE Board Director

The PNCB is proud to announce that Chief Executive Officer Janet S. Wyatt, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAANP was elected Board Director for the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE). Established in 1977, this non-profit association of organizations and individuals interested in the credentialing field is the international leader in setting quality standards for credentialing organizations.

10/14/09
Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Care Survey

The National Board for Certification of Hospice and Palliative Nurses (NBCHPN®) is conducting a survey that will be used to identify current critical tasks performed by nurses who provide care to children (e.g., perinatal period, infancy, childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood) facing potentially life-limiting illnesses. Results from this survey will be used to determine the content of a possible pediatric hospice and palliative registered nurse certification exam. This survey opportunity ended 11/1/09.

9/29/09
PNCB and Versant Partner to Strengthen Pediatric Nursing

The PNCB and Versant are pleased to announce the launch of a nationwide partnership designed to strengthen nursing care to children and families. For over a decade, Versant has administered a comprehensive RN Residency in Pediatrics to national acclaim. Following comprehensive review of the Versant curriculum, the PNCB determined that the Versant RN Residency in Pediatrics was congruent with the CPN exam content outline. As a result, the PNCB will recognize all hours obtained in the Versant RN Residency in Pediatrics towards the clinical practice requirement for CPN exam eligibility. Read the press release>>

9/25/09
Update for the Acute Care CPNP® Exam

PNCB is launching new exam forms for this exam on October 5, 2009. These forms will align with national consensus-based certification standards of 175 exam questions (150 scored and 25 pretest) with a 3 hour testing time. The exam content outline and reference list will remain the same.

9/16/09
H1N1 Flu Resources

In support of the goals of the National Vaccine Program of the Department of Health and Human Services, the PNCB includes important content related to vaccine-preventable diseases in all its exams. Learn More>>

The PNCB encourages all nursing professionals, parents, and caregivers to review our H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) Resource Sheet for up-to-date information about the H1N1 flu virus.

9/1/09
Test-Taking Strategies Module for CE Now Available!

If you're planning to take a certification exam offered by the PNCB or other organization, our online Test-taking Strategies Module for CE can help! This module focuses on all phases of exam readiness, from analyzing and answering multiple-choice test questions to dealing with test anxiety. Participants earn 1.5 NAPNAP approved contact hours upon completion. The cost is $15.00. Learn more>>

8/21/09
Our Acute Care PNP Role Delineation Study

If you currently practice in the Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner role, we invite you to participate in our online survey to identify critical tasks performed by Acute Care PNPs. The results of this survey will be used to update the content of the Acute Care CPNP examination, and your feedback will help us ensure that the examination includes tasks that are relevant to this role. This survey is now closed. Thank you to all who responded.

6/10/09
CPN® and CPNP® Advocate Award Winners

The PNCB is pleased to announce the winners of the 2009 Advocate Awards. Congratulations to Donna Timmerman, BSN, RN, CPN, Casey O'Brien, BSN, RN, CPN, Teri Moser Woo, PhD, RN, CPNP-PC, and Kristen Osborn, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC, CPNP-AC for their outstanding efforts in promoting certification! We hope you take a moment to read about their accomplishments in our CPN Advocate Award Press Release and our CPNP Advocate Award Press Release.

5/15/09
SAE Deadline and Extension Option

Self-Assessment Exercise paper answer sheets will need to be postmarked on Friday, May 15th. Sheets submitted with a postmark date of May 16 to June 15, 2009 must be accompanied by a $50 late fee. Online answer SAEs must be completed by Friday, May 15th at 11:59 PM EST. To extend your online answer method Self-Assessment Exercise deadline to June 15th, click here. After June 15th, extensions are no longer available.

4/30/09
The PNCB Image Gallery

The PNCB is pleased to share photographs from events at the 2009 SPN and NAPNAP Conferences in our new Image Gallery. We invite you to take a look and check back often for updates.

3/10/09
Celebrate Certified Nurses Day: March 19, 2009

Certified Nurses Day™ is a special day of recognition to celebrate the contribution of board certified nurses to the advancement of nursing professionalism and to higher standards and better outcomes in patient health. If you're certified, enjoy your special day! If you're thinking about becoming certified, visit our home page to learn more about achieving this distinction in your specialty.
More about Certified Nurses Day>>

12/8/08
CPNP-PC Member-at-Large Position Open on PNCB Board

The PNCB seeks nominations for a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care (CPNP-PC) member-at-large position on its Board of Directors. This special position was designed to broaden the representative voice of the community of practicing CPNPs on issues related to pediatric nursing certification for advanced practice. The three-year term for this board position will start July 2009. Applications are due March 16, 2009. Read more>>

11/18/08
PNP Student Reception at the 2009 NAPNAP Conference

All PNP students and faculty are invited to attend this networking reception in honor of Catherine E. Burns, PhD, RN, CPNP, FAAN. Meet with Catherine Burns, NAPNAP Executive Board members, members of the Association of Faculties of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (AFPNP), members of the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) and other students for an informal "get-to-know you" social event. This event includes a special awards ceremony. For a printable Student Reception Invitation with registration information, click here.

11/9/08
Nurse Practitioners Week, November 9 - 15

Congratulations to all CPNPs and NPs! For posters, fact sheets and other resources, visit the the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) website.

10/22/08
PNCB Events at the 2009 NAPNAP Conference in San Diego

The PNCB will host an Exam Item Writer's Workshop at the 2009 NAPNAP Conference on Wednesday, March 18th from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. If you are a Primary Care or Acute Care CPNP willing to share your expertise, we encourage you to apply. The PNCB will also host a Student Reception for all PNPs on Wednesday, March 18th from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. Learn more about these special events.

9/26/08
PNCB's Pediatric Nursing Role Delineation Study and CPN® Exam Updates

The PNCB is proud to announce that analysis of our 2008 Pediatric Nursing Role Delineation Study is complete. The data for this research is drawn from the largest survey ever completed of practicing pediatric nurses, with over 2,800 pediatric nurses participating. Updates to the CPN exam as reflected in the new CPN exam content outline are scheduled to occur December 15, 2008. For highlights of this study, please see our press release.

9/25/08
Announcing the PNCB's Certification Advocate Awards

The PNCB is calling for nominations for our new Certification Advocate Awards. These annual awards recognize a CPN®, a Primary Care CPNP®, and an Acute Care CPNP® who are outstanding advocates for certification at a local/hospital level, regional or national level. Self-nominations are accepted, and the deadline is December 1, 2008. For full details, see our Certification Advocate Award application.

9/12/08
Specialty Certification Exams Survey

If you are a PNP or other APRN, the PNCB invites you to share feedback as we explore the development of pediatric-focused specialty exams for advanced practice nurses. This brief Specialty Certification Exams Survey will take approximately three minutes to complete, and results will be shared here on our website in early 2009.

9/11/08
What's New for 2009 Recert?

We've made a lot of changes, like faster shipping of SAEs and a new online method to answer SAEs. Plus enrolling online for Recert now saves you $15.00! To read all about these and other changes, visit your Recertification web links.

8/15/08
Our CPNP-PC® Role Delineation Study and Exam Updates

The PNCB is proud to announce that analysis of our 2007-2008 Primary Care PNP Role Delineation Study is complete. Updates to the CPNP-PC exam as reflected in the new CPNP-PC exam content outline are scheduled to occur in October 2008. Please check back for updates on this timeline. For more about our Role Delineation Study highlights and the exam changes, please see our press release and 2008 CPNP-PC Exam PowerPoint.

6/25/08
A Unified Statement on DNP Certification, Titling, and Education

The NP Roundtable released its first statement about DNP Education, Certification and Titling: A Unified Statement. The Nurse Practitioner Roundtable is a coalition of nurse practitioner organizations formed to collaborate, unify, and address issues of importance to nurse practitioners. The NP Roundtable is currently composed of seven organizations including AANP, ACNP, AFPNP, NAPNAP, NCGNP, NONPF and NPWH. Click here to read this landmark document.

To read the PNCB's statement on PNP Certification and the DNP, click here.

5/21/08
CPN® Exam Offered at the Pediatric Nursing Conference in Las Vegas

On Sunday, June 29th, the PNCB will offer the Certified Pediatric Nurse Examination in paper-pencil format at the Las Vegas Hilton. Exam registration is separate from conference registration. To apply, visit this special link to apply online by Tuesday, June 24th. The exam will be held from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and the cost of the exam is $255.

We hope you have the opportunity to take this special on-site offering of the acclaimed CPN® Exam.

5/15/08
The Legacy of Dr. Donna L. Wong

The PNCB was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Donna L. Wong, known throughout the world for her work in the fields of pediatric nursing and pain management. To learn more about her many accomplishments, visit this tribute.

5/13/08
SAE Answer Sheets Due

Please send in your answer sheet, postmarked by Thursday, May 15th, to avoid a late fee. To see if your answer sheet has been received, log in and view your Recert History under 2008 Recertification.

4/25/08
The Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN™) Exam

Information about this new exam, developed in partnership with the Board of Certification for Emergency Nurses, is now available! Click here to learn more.

4/24/08
Our New Pediatric Nurse Role Delineation Survey

We invite all pediatric nurses to participate in this important study as we update our Certified Pediatric Nurse Exam. This survey ends June 1, 2008. Thank you for your participation!

4/21/08
The DNP and CPNP® Certification

In response to questions about how the DNP may impact your certification, the PNCB offers its Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Certification and the Doctorate of Nursing Practice statement. The PNCB will never require you to obtain additional degrees to keep your current CPNP® certification. However, CPNPs® who allow their certification to lapse would need to meet any new eligibility requirements to take the exam again. In the future, this could include the DNP.

4/2/08
Important Changes Regarding the Use of Physostigmine

The Pediatric Nursing Certification Board would like to inform you of new information regarding the use of physostigmine. This important update affects your Lexi-Comp Pediatric Dosage Handbook, 14th Edition, which you received as a reference for the PNCB's 2007 - 2008 Pediatric Pharmacology Self-Assessment Exercise.

Recently, clinical feedback has prompted concern related to the use of physostigmine as a treatment option as outlined in the Overdose/Toxicology section in Lexi-Comp's drug information. Although these concerns affect a minority of monographs, Lexi-Comp has decided to temporarily suspend this content until these concerns are more fully investigated in consultation with a panel of toxicology experts.

Because this information is presented in past and current print publications, Lexi-Comp notified the PNCB so that we could promptly communicate this critical update to you. Both the PNCB and Lexi-Comp seek to maintain the highest level of professional integrity with the information they provide. We ask that you please review this notice from Lexi-Comp for more information.

This new information does not affect test questions in the 2007 - 2008 Pediatric Pharmacology Self-Assessment Exercise. Should you have additional questions, please contact Lexi-Comp's Customer Support Team at 866-397-3433.

3/26/08
New Article by PNCB Board President

A Multi-state Reimbursement Alliance Model, the latest article by Board President Madelyn McMurtrie, MS, RN, CPNP is now featured in the March/April 2008 issue of Journal of Pediatric Health Care (JPHC).

In addition, Doctorate of Nursing Practice: Blueprint for Excellence by President Elect Arlene M. Sperhac, PhD, RN, CPNP and past President Patricia Clinton, PhD, RN, ARNP, FAANP is forthcoming from the JPHC. For more information, visit the Journal of Pediatric Health Care website.

For past news items, visit our archives page.