HPCC Certification Newsletter * February 2016 * Volume 8, Issue 1

Greetings!

Thank you for reading the February 2016 issue of the HPCC Certification Newsletter and for your continued support of certification.
ValueCert
Updated Value of Hospice
and Palliative Certification 
Position Statement
HPCC has joined forces with the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) and the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation (HPNF) to highlight the value of hospice and palliative certification in an updated joint position statement.
 
The three organizations share the same mission, to advance expert care in serious illness, and all believe that professional certification is an important aspect in ensuring quality and outcomes for individuals and their families. Hospice and palliative care delivery and research have matured in the last ten years, however, academic degrees alone do not ensure specialty palliative skill, knowledge, and expertise.
 
"As the population ages, and with advances in medical treatments and technology, more and more people of all ages are living with chronic diseases," said Susan Koff, MSN ARNP GNP-BC ACHPN CRRN, President of the HPCC Board of Directors. "The demand for highly qualified, competent staff is growing."
 
Studies have demonstrated a positive link between certification and performance outcomes, such as higher patient satisfaction ratings, fewer adverse events in patient care, and increased personal growth and professional satisfaction among other benefits. Certification also has a significant positive impact on patient care and safety, with studies indicating improvements in clinical outcomes. 

In This Issue
"Successful attainment of professional specialty certification and recertification are a means of demonstrating continuing competence," said Sally Welsh, MSN RN NEA-BC, and CEO of HPCC, HPNA, and HPNF.
 
To read the news release in its entirety, or to see the entire position statement, please follow the links below.
 
 
Vouchers
Examination Vouchers Are Now Available
  Third parties can now pay the full certification exam fee for others 
HPCC has worked together with PSI Services-Applied Measurement Professionals, Inc. (PSI-AMP), the testing company that manages our certification examinations, to create a voucher program for those purchasing exams. 
 
Third parties will now be able to purchase exams by paying the full examination fee in advance, and receive a voucher code for the purchasers to disperse to examination candidates. Those candidates will be able to input the voucher code when applying for their individual examinations in lieu of providing payment. 
 
This program is available immediately.  For more information on how to purchase multiple certification exams, please see the informational document linked below, or contact us directly at hpcc@gohpcc.org or 412-787-1057.
 
Testing2016
Testing Dates for 2016
The remaining testing windows for 2016 are June, September, and December. Paper or online applications for June will be accepted beginning March 1, 2016. All applicants including APRNs may apply online. Please download or print the appropriate candidate handbook for the exam you plan to take. The handbooks are available online through this link or on our website at www.goHPCC.org. These candidate handbooks contain information about each exam such as how to apply, fees, schedules, detailed test content outline of the information covered, suggested references for study, and much more!

Be sure to view the 2016 certification application fee schedule. HPNA members continue to receive substantial exam discounts as a member benefit. Keep your membership current to receive this as well as many other benefits. If interested in HPNA membership, click the link or visit the HPNA web site at www.goHPNA.org.  
Dec2015
Results of December 2015 Testing
Successful testers from the December 2015 testing window include over 1,400 additional certificants:

ACHPNs - 71
CHPNs - 924
CHPPNs - 21
CHPLNs - 67
CHPNAs - 315
CHPCAs - 12
CPLCs - 4  
 
As of January 1, 2016, HPCC certifies over 17,000 individuals.  Congratulations to all who passed their exam in December! 
Results2015
2015 Overall Testing Results
2015 CBT EXAMINATION RESULTS 
Discipline
# of Testers
# of Passers
# of current certificants as of January 1, 2016
APRN
402
239
1,262
RN
3,200
2,429
10,992
Pediatric RN
71
63
177
LP/VN
254
188
867
NA
1,151
949
3,546
Administrator
85
51
284
Perinatal Loss Care
36
36
122

 
HPAR
Learn More about HPAR
Do you need to know more about the Hospice and Palliative Accrual for Recertification (HPAR) process?  
 
We have created a brief informational slideshow on HPAR that we hope will help clarify the process.  It is available through the link above or below, and also on our website under the recertification page for each credential.
 
We also have received questions about why specialty nursing recertification criteria has moved to the HPAR process.  We published an article in our June 2015 newsletter that explains our thoughts on the issue, titled The Evolution of Specialty Nursing Recertification Criteria: How and Why Recertification Requirements are Changing.  You can access the June 2015 newsletter and the article through the link.  
 
You can always contact us directly if you have questions about your specific situation, by email at hpcc@gohpcc.org or by phone at 412-787-1057.
 
 
 
CertNursesDay
Certified Nurses Day is March 19 
Certified Nurses Day is celebrated every year on March 19, the birthday of Margretta "Gretta" Madden Styles.

Known as the "Mother of Nurse Credentialing", Gretta Styles was the architect of the first comprehensive study of nursing credentialing in the 1970s. She served as President of the American Nurses Association, the International Council of Nurses, the California Board of Registered Nursing, and the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Make Certified Nurses Day a special day of recognition to celebrate certified nurses across the country who contribute to the advancement of nursing professionalism and to higher standards and better outcomes in patient health. Consider honoring your certified nursing team member with a certification pin, available for purchase for all certificants!

 

      
 
     
Pins 
Certification Pins for Certified Nurses Day
Thinking about a unique gift for Certified Nurses Day? Certification pins are available for purchase for all of our credentials:  ACHPN, CHPN, CHPPN, CHPLN, CHPNA, CHPCA, and CPLC. Order one for yourself or for a colleague as a gift.


 
Pin Description:
Size:  1.5 inch 
Base: 1.2mm thick solid metal
Type: die struck gold plating with 8mm post with butterfly clutch and acrylic case
 
Be recognized by your colleagues and patients as being certified in your specialty. These pins showcase your credential and dedication to your profession.  Order a pin today and display your credential with pride!  
contact 
Update Your Contact Information
Has your contact information changed? Please be sure we have your current address and email, by logging in to www.goHPCC.org. You may also call us at 412-787-1057.

facebook 
Employer Supporter Program

How does your employer support certification? Study groups? Reimbursement for passing the exam? Formal recognition? Enroll your employer in our Employer Supporter Program, and your agency may be chosen as the HPCC Employer of the Year!

 

hpna
News from
Hospice & Palliative Nurses Association


Last Call for the AAHPM/HPNA Annual Assembly!

Registration will be closing on February 29 for the 2016 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM)/Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) Annual Assembly, taking place March 9-12 in Chicago, Illinois. 
  
In addition, HPNA is offering several preconferences on Wednesday, March 9, covering topics such as advanced cardiac disease in palliative care, how cultural variances influence how grief is processed, and optimizing medication management from palliative to hospice care.  These is even a CHPN certification review course for those considering taking the exam in the near future. 

Registration information for both the preconferences and the event is available through the event website at AnnualAssembly.org, or you can look under "education" on our website at www.goHPNA.org for more information on the AAHPM/HPNA Annual Assembly.
 
     
  


Next ELNEC Date is this May in Scottdale, AZ
    
The next upcoming HPNA-sponsored End of Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) core course will be in beautiful Scottdale, AZ on Tuesday, May 24, and Wednesday, May 25.  Other dates for 2016 include Charleston, SC in July and in Orlando, FL in October. 
  
This course provides nurses with education in palliative care, and helps prepare them to teach the information to practicing nurses and other healthcare professionals. For further information on these courses, and how to register, please visit the ELNEC page on our website through the link below. 

  
hpnf
News from
Hospice & Palliative Nurses Foundation

Opportunities to cover some of your costs toward your professional development, including certification and recertification, are available through HPNF scholarships, grants, and awards.  Take advantage of these opportunities while they are still available. 

 

Certification Scholarships - These scholarships reimburse your certification or recertification costs, and are available for all seven certifications (ACHPN, CHPN, CHPPN, CHPLN, CHPNA, CHPCA, and CPLC). The deadline for applications is the first of each month, specifically both March 1 and April 1, 2016.

 

Conference Scholarships - ELNEC, Scottsdale, Arizona - This will help reimburse some of the costs of attending the first End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) course, taking place this year on Tuesday, May 24 and Wednesday, May 25 in Scottsdale, AZ.  Follow the link above for application information.  The deadline to apply is May 1, 2016.  

 

Learn more about each individual opportunity through the links above, or see a complete list of 2016 HPNF opportunities through the link below. For additional information, please contact us at hpnf@gohpnf.org or at 412-787-9301 with any questions.

 

HPNF depends on your generous spirit to fund its program of scholarships, grants, and awards.  We hope that we can count on your support!  Make your donation today at www.gohpnf.org or click on Give Today


 
 

Complete List of 2016 HPNF Opportunities 

 


Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center | One Penn Center West | Suite 425 | Pittsburgh | PA | 15276