ONCC Position on Current Re-Certification Requirements: A Discussion Close To Our Careers and Hearts
Christine Pence, RN, MSN, OCN®
For many of us the sense of pride felt when we first passed our oncology certification exam remains unmatched in our professional lives. It is a source of pride that is evident each time we affix our signature with credentials that we have worked so hard to achieve, and have continued to work to maintain. Similar to the nursing caps of the past, our credentials, are a continued reminder that we are professional oncology nurses, holding a unique skill set, and expertise that we bring not only to the exam table but to the table of each every board room and conference room we enter.
This pride was strongly felt at this year’s ONS Congress during the town hall session on April 30, 2009 when many from the audience brought to the platform an issue with the existing ONCC requirements for recertification. Currently nurses with an unrestricted RN license can renew their ONCC certification if specific requirements in 2 of the following 3 categories are met: 1) nursing practice hours 2) professional development points documented through the Oncology Nursing Certification Points Renewal Option (ONC-PRO ) and 3) successful re-testing. For example a nurse may choose to complete the requirements for ONC-PRO points and practice hours to apply for certification, another nurse may choose to retake the certification exam and submit required ONC-PRO points in order to apply for recertification. The amount of hours and ONC-PRO points required vary depending on the certification that is being renewed (i.e. OCN® , CPON®, AOCN®, AOCNS®, AOCNP®) (ONCC, 2008).
The key discussion point at the PIN SIG face-to-face meeting revolved around the ONCC definition of nursing practice hours (criteria #1 above).. Many nurses in the pharmaceutical industry spend much of their professional time teaching and training nursing staff and physicians on new and emerging therapies. There is confusion among nurses in industry as to whether these hours meet the ONCC criteria. In a telephone discussion in June of this year with Cyndi Miller Murphy, Executive Director of the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC) and Vicki Norton, President of the ONCC Board of Directors, the ONCC position was clarified. Nursing practice hours are defined as those hours spent in a position that is specific to the nursing role. One way of determining if the role is specific to nursing practice is by whether the job description requires that a nurse hold the position. For the practice to be defined as nursing, ONCC requires that the job description specifically requires that it be filled by a nurse(this includes positions which state that either a nurse, PharmD or MD is required).
The roles and responsibilities of pharmaceutical nurses vary greatly by career path and by corporation. In order to align with the ONCC position and to further advance the industry in identifying the importance of the unique knowledge base that nurses bring to many positions in industry, we should advocate that the criteria of RN be added to our job description, when appropriate.
After review of this information, you can email any questions/concerns to Cyndi Miller Murphy (cmillermurphy@ons.org) or Vicki Norton (victoria.norton@parknicollet.com).
As always, the ONCC has agreed to review individual cases in areas where uncertainty or ambiguity may exist.
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