As a "nurse in the trenches" it has been very difficult, and almost impossible for me to take the time out for CRNI. The study for a test of this magnitude is more than laborious! It is unfortunate that many areas covered in the test are not those needed by patient-care nurses on IV teams. If AVA develops a test that is more condusive to my area of expertise, ie, PICC line placement, and vascular-related issues, I will be so happy to take it! I have put off taking the CRNI for four years because of several factors:
1. I know a very intelligent, experienced IV nurse who has taken the test at least twice and has not been able to pass it yet. 2. In our four-hospital system, the IV team gives chemo to any patient who is not on the oncology floor. If we are able to get them transferred, we do. If not, we spend whatever time needed to give the chemo safely for both the nurse and the patient. We do not feel like we should need to learn about all the cancers and all the treatments and all the side effects, etc, in order to be a good IV nurse to these patients, especially when they may occur one to five times a month- or none at all. 3. Although we spend a lot of time researching drug pH and osmolality in order to assess for the need for PICC placement vs. midline placement, we do not learn all the drugs, their classifications, their side effects and on and on..... Our nurses have available to them a multitude of drug books, compatatibility charts, equivalents charts, and knowledgable phamacists at their disposal, and we have to know when to call for help from each other when we need it, too. I am very comfortable with the resources I have and have no problem telling someone "I'll don't know that off hand, but I'll look up the information and get back to you in a short while." 4. Out of 32 IV nurses, only two are CRNI's. That is a statement in itself. All I have ever heard is how horribly difficult it is to pass the test. I am slated to take the test on the 29th of this month, and I have studied on and off for the past year- I'll be able to speak more intelligently about it in about 7 days! I have spent $250.00 for the review class, $65.00 for the study cards, $120.00 for the CD's and the basic cost for the test. I have to admit that if I do not pass, I will be thoroughly disgusted!!! 5. Of the two nurses who have been certified, both have a hard time getting recertified because of the stringent requirements, and the amount of time and money it takes to keep it up. One of them said that if her's ever lapsed she would not renew. She is already stressed out about the fact that she cannot take the full week off to go to the conference, cannot afford the time or the expense, and is not able to find enough CEUs to stay home. Our local chapter does not offer enough CEUs that I am aware of at this time. Getting CEU's from INS, to my understanding, costs more if it is to be used for recertification than if it is used for relicensure. Many CRNI's have strong feelings about this. 6. At the review, half of the class had already taken the test! My director has opened the door for all of us to become more educated about our area of expertise. I attended AVA this year, am attending INS in Orlando, have been a member of INS for two+ years, and intend to take the AVA certification if it becomes available- after I take the CRNI. I have no bias regarding either AVA or INS, but have been very observant of others who talk about the difficulty getting- and keeping- the certification. Melody Corkhill, RN, BSN, BS, MS IV therapy RN 4 Moses Cone Health System Greensboro, NC -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Nicholas Williams Sent: Friday, September 22, 2006 3:57 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Henderson, Karin; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: New certification I went to my local INS meeting last nite and was told that CRNI is now nationally recognized. Nick >>> "Lynn Hadaway" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 09/22/06 10:06 AM >>> I think you are overlooking the many avenues that are available to obtain recert units for the CRNI. Nurses can obtain these units by going to a local INS chapter meeting, by attending an AVA conference, etc. I can also see many, many differences between the CCRN and CRNI. Other than AVA and LITE, there are no other conferences that address the content areas of the CRNI exam. AVA and LITE can apply to INCC for a certain number of recert units to be earned by attending those conferences. While some may regard the INCC position on this issue to be restrictive of nurses, we must remember that the mission of any certification board is not for the benefit of the profession. There mission is for the protection of the public. I think if you look at some of the other smaller certifications you will find a similar approach. Also INCC has now meet the criteria from the American Board of Nursing Certifications. You can read more about this stringent process at www.nursingcertification.org. Lynn At 3:58 PM -0400 9/21/06, Henderson, Karin wrote: >Not having a CRNI myself...my certification is >as a nurse practitioner and CCRN...certification >speaks volumes to the community and support >professional nursing practice. My experience as >a director of an IV Nursing Department and PICC >program that support 1000 beds is...many many IV >nurses would LOVE to obtain certification, >HOWEVER, the stringent requirements from INS >that most of the CEUs be obtained ONLY by >attending one of their national meetings is >absolutely prohibitive to most >nurses...hospitals have cut education budgets >and time off for travel to far away conferences >is less than optimal for most. > >As a CCRN, a critical care credential that >represents the LARGEST group of certified >nurses...my suggestion is that INS or ANY >organization seeking to offer certification >needs to look at the manner in which AACN >requires continuing education. It is NOT >necessary to attend their exclusive meetings to >recertify...this is a HUGE roadblock to the many >fine practitioners in IV nursing who wish >certification. IF AVA offers a national >certification that is not so prohibitive to its >members...I predict that it will be THE >certification of choice for this specialty. As >a manager of a large team, I see the struggles >that my CRNIs have every time they need to >recertifiy...trying to get to that exclusive >conference.....just thoughts from another >certified nurse. > >Karin Henderson, RN, MSN, CCRN, CS-GNP >Director of IV Services/PICC Program >Moses Cone Health System >Greensboro, NC > >-----Original Message----- >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf >Of Chris Cavanaugh >Sent: Thursday, September 21, 2006 3:39 PM >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: New certification > >Hi gang-I was hoping to see some discussion >regarding this on the list, but have not so I >thought I would get the pot stirred up�AVA >announced at the Town Hall meeting that they are >working on a new certification, one that may >have 2 levels, one for licensed (MDs and RNs) >and one for unlicensed (manufacturers, sales >reps). What do people think about this? Is it >a duplication of efforts? Will those that have >a CRNI go ahead for this certification also? My >experience has been that so few people know what >a CRNI is, that yet another certification in >infusion may confuse them. Are there any other >specialties that have more than one >certification? I could not think of any. I am >interested in hearing what group has to say. >Thanks > >Chris Cavanaugh, CRNI >3606 Molona Dr. >Orlando, FL 32837 >407-928-9297 > -- Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RNC, CRNI Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc. 126 Main Street, PO Box 10 Milner, GA 30257 http://www.hadawayassociates.com office 770-358-7861 +++++CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE+++++ The information in this e-mail may be confidential and/or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient or an authorized representative of the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, dissemination or copying of this e-mail and its attachments, if any, or the information contained herein is prohibited. 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