PEDS CNS exam to be retired Dec 2015

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Sep 23, 2014

That sucks! So sorry to hear that. In my opinion, ANCC is really being disgraceful to nursing by eliminating many CNS specialty exams. I am suspecting that decreased interest, hence, low examinee pool is driving this and it's not cost-effective to continue offering the test. I fear that ANCC's solution of just "scrapping the whole thing" instead of attempting to reinvent the role and market it for the current realities of health care is just plain irresponsible. As a solution, would you qualify for AACN's CCNS certification in Adult and Pediatric Acute/Critical Care?

elkpark · Sep 23, 2014

This is not coming exclusively, unilaterally from the ANCC -- it's being driven by the LACE, "consensus" model for revamping advanced practice nursing. I think it's a bunch of crap, but nobody asked me what I thought when they were coming up with the plan to eliminate my certification.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Sep 23, 2014

In that case, TraumaRUs, your only option is to certify with AACN. Their certifications are in line with the Consensus Model's statement that only the Acute Care tracks are age-specific. AACN have separate exams for the Adult, Peds, and Neonatal CCNS roles in the acute care setting. BTW, if ANCC was really into following the Consensus Model, why isn't there a Family Psych CNS exam?

Trauma Columnist · Sep 23, 2014

Yeah.....thanks guys. I thought I was doing well to obtain the peds cert. however after I did, my practice decided to quit seeing kids.

Will look into the AACN exam. Thanks much.

elkpark · Sep 23, 2014

BTW, if ANCC was really into following the Consensus Model, why isn't there a Family Psych CNS exam?

Because they are eliminating the psych CNS role altogether. They have consolidated the adult psych NP and "family" psych NP (which was child/adolescent psych NP) into just the "family" psych NP, which will be lifespan, going forward.

Trauma Columnist · Sep 23, 2014

Thanks again for the info.

It doesn't look like I'm eligible for the AACN exam either because I don't work in the hospital for the most part.

I looked at the UMASS program but they don't accept CNS to their post-MSN FNP program - how frustrating is all of this???

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Sep 23, 2014

Because they are eliminating the psych CNS role altogether. They have consolidated the adult psych NP and "family" psych NP (which was child/adolescent psych NP) into just the "family" psych NP, which will be lifespan, going forward.

That statement does not exist in the entire Consensus Model document.

elkpark · Sep 23, 2014

Sorry I wasn't clearer. I meant that the ANCC has made a decision to eliminate the psych CNS certification altogether, not that that is part of the LACE/consensus model. The merging of child psych and adult psych NP certifications into a single family/lifespan psych NP is the part that I meant goes along with the model. I'm no expert on any of this (and don't appreciate being kicked to the curb by my profession and certification board), but that's what was explained to me at a recent NACNS conference.

Trauma Columnist · Sep 23, 2014

Yeah - the whole thing stinks in my book.

I absolutely dread returning to school just to feed some fat-cat educator who 10 yrs down the road will change things again!

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Sep 24, 2014

Not to drive a superfluous issue to death as I'm really preaching to the choir here but what annoys me is that I thought the Consensus Model sealed the deal in legitimizing the CNS role as an APN specialty and made provisions to ensure that it remains viable. The document even clarifies that unlike NP's, Adult and Peds CNS roles are not limited to the acute care vs primary care delineation, instead the roles encompass both realms. Now, ANCC is completely tossing out the Peds CNS certification which is really coming out of the blue.

We're all practicing APN's and we have been faced with change through the years but this one really sucks because it may well be the last nail on the coffin that ensures the death of the Peds CNS role. I mean what school will offer this program if there's no way for graduates to get certified in it. Luckily AACN, a group seemingly committed to excellence in care across the lifespan in the acute care setting, continues to offer the various CCNS certifications for acute care nurses.

I now have made the assumption that maybe ANCC should give up offering a certification program and leave this task to the specialty nursing groups such as AACN, PNCB, etc. Maybe the Psych Nursing specialty group should offer a Psych CNS certification program.

elkpark · Sep 24, 2014

Maybe the Psych Nursing specialty group should offer a Psych CNS certification program.

There is discussion going on about this within the two national psych specialty groups now.