Going from ANCC certification to AACN cert? Anyone?

grouchybuthappy · Jan 2, 2015

Trauma,

why do you need to recertify via AACN. It is my understanding that for the retired certiication, all we need to make sure is that our licences do not lapse.

I just passed my adult AACN CCNS exam and have a very promising offer of employment. And AACN has retired the AACN as of Dec 2014.

I guess my question is why do you have to recertify?

I am not planning on going back to school/recertifying any time soon/

Trauma Columnist · Jan 2, 2015

Sorry I should have been more specific. In my current practice, I do not see ANY pediatric pts. So, I don't have the practice hours (1000/5 years). My ANCC peds CNS expires in July 2016 and I will need to retest. However, the peds CNS test will not be offered by ANCC after 12/02015.

So...therein lies my problem: no way to retest with ANCC so I need to look at other options and they only options I could come up with are:

1. Go back to school and get a third post-MSN certificate as an FNP.

2. Change my certification over to AACN

What a mess I've made with my stupid educational choices - ugh!

grouchybuthappy · Jan 4, 2015

Oh my!

that sucks big time!

Do you want to see pediatrics in the future? I hate the idea of having to go back to school just to renew a certification you are not likely to use in the near future.

Good luck!

Trauma Columnist · Jan 4, 2015

Although in my current job I do not see kids nor will I if I stay here. However, who knows what the future holds? I don't want to just drop the ability to see pediatric pts.

I will post back when I hear from AACN.

Psychcns · Jan 4, 2015

Could you do the hours next year somehow. Volunteer???

Trauma Columnist · Jan 5, 2015

I wish! I have been trying to volunteer but the "free" clinic in town has so many volunteers they have a 3-4 YEAR wait.

I already am a volunteer fireman/EMS with my rural squad and even though its an ALS rig, its not APRN level by any means.

Psychcns · Jan 5, 2015

Trauma. Since the CNS treats individuals families communities I think you could do practice hours focusing on one of these realms. For example a community assessment and intervention on bullying. You could set it up for contact hours too, for example. Since the CNS provides direct and indirect care I think a community project could count. Or volunteer mentoring, maybe.

You have a year, hopefully you can keep up your certification. And maybe there is a "grace period" so you have more than a year!!

elkpark · Jan 5, 2015

You have a year, hopefully you can keep up your certification. And maybe there is a "grace period" so you have more than a year!!

I don't know if ANCC still offers this, but it used to be the case that, if you didn't have either the clinical hours or the CEs to recertify, you could let your certification lapse and then have up to two years to complete the requirements and recertify -- during the two years, you were not certified and couldn't use the advanced practice credential, but you could then submit your application again and get recertified without retesting.

At least, that was possible with the psych CNS certifications -- I believe the purpose was to recognize that many psych CNS jobs were part-time and some people weren't getting many hours. I have no idea whether it was an option with any other specialties, but it would sure be worth asking about ...

Trauma Columnist · Jan 5, 2015

Thanks!

@psychCNS - unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) in IL CNS is an APRN which means I have to actually care for peds pts.

@elkpark - the ANCC peds CNS exam is being retired Dec 2015. After December 1, 2015, the exam won't be offered. My current Peds CNS cert expires July 2016 but if I wait until after Dec 2015, I won't have the hours to recertify by practice hrs/CME and there will be no test available.

Nursing education is incredibly shortsighted IMHO.

elkpark · Jan 5, 2015

@elkpark - the ANCC peds CNS exam is being retired Dec 2015. After December 1, 2015, the exam won't be offered. My current Peds CNS cert expires July 2016 but if I wait until after Dec 2015, I won't have the hours to recertify by practice hrs/CME and there will be no test available.

I understand that's what you're saying. What I'm saying is that, at least for psych CNSs, the ANCC used to offer what was essentially a 2-year "grace period" if you didn't have either the hours or the CEs to recentify on time -- you had up until two years after your certification expired to accrue the hours or CEs and then apply for recertification without having to retest. I had to use this option once, myself, and had no difficulty getting recertified (late). The only catch is that you can't use the (lapsed) credential during the time that your certification is lapsed-- but you said you aren't currently seeing any peds clients anyway, so that might not be an issue.

I don't know if that's still an option, but, if I were in your shoes, I would sure be checking on it. That wuld get you an additional two years to get the required hours.

Psychcns · Jan 5, 2015

@trauma. My perusal of the CNS certification is that you need 1000 hours as a CNS in pediatrics. It says nothing about direct care or state requirements.

Since the CNS certification is national I suggest you get guidance from the national association of clinical nurse specialists. It may give you ideas of a volunteer job you can create that would count. Best wishes..