AHNCC    

   

 THE CERTIFICATION AND RECERTIFICATION PROCESSES 

This section provides specific information about the procedures necessary for Certification and Recertification. Although we have provided several bookmarks to facilitate our visitors, we encourage you to visit the entire website. 

 

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Nurses who have graduated from Endorsed Schools may be eligible for an expedited Certification Process. Contact AHNCC (ahncc@flash.net) to determine eligibility. All other nurses who meet eligibility criteria must complete the required Certification Procedures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
CERTIFICATION PROCEDURES

 
HN-BC and AHN-BC  Certification includes three required, sequential steps:

 
Step 1 An application to qualify for certification,
Step 2 A qualitative assessment, and
Step  3 A quantitative examination.

 

 
The candidate must receive AHNCC approval before progressing to Step 2 and Step 3. 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 1. Application to Qualify for Certification

 
The Application to Qualify for Certification is included in the AHNCC Handbook which contains information regarding the entire Certification Process. It can also be downloaded by clicking here. The entire Application to Qualify for Certification must be completed in full and submitted with:

 

 

 

 
The application will be reviewed by AHNCC staff and approved by AHNCC Board of Directors within 3-4 weeks of the date of arrival.  Potential candidates will be notified of their status for progression within 4-6 weeks from the original date of arrival in AHNCC's office. Please do not submit Step 2 documents until you are notified by AHNCC's office that you are qualified to proceed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

Step 2. Qualitative Assessment (QA)

 

 
Candidates who have been approved by AHNCC to progress to Step 2: The Qualitative Assessment  will receive a Qualitative Assessment Application Form, Guidelines (QA Guidelines) for a written essay, and instructions necessary to progress.  Candidates are encouraged to submit the Qualitative Assessment as soon as possible. QAs that are being submitted for review for the October examination period must be submitted NO LATER THAN July 30. If you wish to sit for the March examination period QAs must be submitted NO LATER than November 30.

 

 
Once the candidate has received the QA Guidelines and the QA Application Form, the candidate must submit, as a package, the following items:

 
  • Qualitative Assessment Application Form which will be sent from AHNCC,
  • Written essay designed to assess the nurse's ability to integrate foundation concepts of Holistic Nursing into his/her life and practice, and the
Qualitative Assessments will be reviewed  by AHNCC approved, AHNCC Certified Nurses four times a year starting October 1, 1998.  Additional reviews will occur when needed.   Candidates for certification will be sent notification of their status within 4-6 weeks after receipt in AHNCC's office.  

 
Candidates who fail to meet criteria for successful completion of the Qualitative Assessment may resubmit the Qualitative Assessment Packet as many times as necessary for a maximum of one (1) year from the date of notification of eligibility to progress to the Qualitative Assessment.

 
Sample Qualitative Assessment Questions are:

 
  • Describe in your own words, your personal and professional growth toward an understanding and appreciation of holism and Holistic Nursing.
  • Describe how you use one or more of the extant nursing theories to guide your Holistic Nursing practice.
  • Discuss nursing research relevant to holistic practice.
 

 

Step 3.  Quantitative Examination

 

 
Candidates eligible to progress to the third and last step required for certification will receive:

 
  • A letter indicating successful completion of Step 2: The Qualitative Assessment;
  • An Application Form to take the Quantitative Examination. 
Candidates must complete the Application Form and send it to the Professional Testing Center (PTC) with the appropriate fee within one year from the date of notification of eligibility to progress to Step 3. Examination applications must be sent to PTC no later than January 15th for the March examination period and September 1st for the October examination period.

 
Candidates must successfully pass the Quantitative Examination to become Certified in Holistic Nursing.  If a candidate fails the Quantitative Examination, he/she will be eligible to retake the Quantitative Examination no sooner than three (3) months and no longer than one (1) year from the date of the first Quantitative Examination.

 
If a candidate fails the Quantitative Examination a second time, she/he will need to reapply for both the Qualitative Assessment and the Quantitative Examination respectively no sooner than three (3) months after the date of the second examination. All timelines for retakes, required fees and documentation in effect at the time of reapplication will apply.

 
Candidates will be notified of their score and status by AHNCC approximately 6 weeks after test administration.  Scores and certification status will be released to others only with written authorization from the candidate.

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THE QUANTITATIVE EXAMINATION

 

 
OVERVIEW
 AHNCC collaborated with the National League for Nursing (NLN) and the Professional Testing Corporation to develop the HN-BC and AHN-BC examinations respectively. Multiple steps used to ensure development of reliable and valid examinations  included item writing by experts in Holistic Nursing, item reviewing, testing, and item analysis. Nationally recognized psychometric procedures are continuously used to evaluate the items. New items are developed routinely to assure continued reliability and validity of both quantitative examinations.

 

 
The Quantitative Examinations (QE) consists of approximately 200 multiple-choice questions that assess applicants' mastery of the body of knowledge considered essential to the practice of Holistic Nursing.  The body of knowledge involves 9 major concepts: philosophy, ethics, theories, research, holism, self-care, health promotion, meaning, and modalities.  While there are a number of references that will help the candidate prepare for the QE, there are no recommended or required readings.

 
Examination items are framed within the context of the AHNA Standards and Core Values. They focus on the nursing process and include assessment,  client needs, outcomes, plan of care, implementation and evaluation of care. The cognitive level of difficulty of the questions vary to test for knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation modes of understanding consistent with the level being tested.

 

The Quantitative Examinations, administered by the Professional Testing Corporation (PTC), are computer based and offered at several hundred national testing sites. Strict regulations are enforced to assure security of the Examinations.  Starting March, 2005 the examinations will be offered over a two-week period of time, twice a year. Candidates can make appointments for the examination with PTC once they are approved by AHNCC.  Information regarding testing sites and dates is available by clicking on the PTC website link above

 

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Sample HN-BC Quantitative Exam Question:
While bringing routine pain medication to a client who is hospitalized with a kidney stone, a holistic nurse finds the client with eyes closed, sitting crossed-legged on a pillow on the floor next to the wall beside the bed.  The client appears to be breathing slowly and comfortably and to be in no obvious distress.  The nurse should:
a) Gently speak the client's name, apologize for interrupting, and offer the medication.
b) Suggest for hygienic reasons the client sit on the bed or chair for meditation.
c) Leave quietly and return in 10 minutes with the medication and check on the client
d) Ask if the client is praying and suggest that going to the chapel would be quieter.

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Suggested Reading References for Certification

 
Achterberg, J., Dossey, B., & Kolkmeier, L. (1994). Rituals of Healing. New York, NY: Bantam Books.
Dossey, B. (ed.) (1997). Core Curriculum for Holistic Nursing. Gaithersburg, MD: Aspen Publishers.
Dossey, B., Keegan, L., Guzzetta, C., and Kolkmeier, L. (1995).  Holistic Nursing: A Handbook for Practice (2nd edition). Gaithersburg, MD: Aspen Publishers.
Dossey, L. (1993). Healing Words. San Francisco, CA: Harper Collins.
Dossey, L. (1996). Prayer is Good Medicine. San Francisco, CA: Harper Collins.
Erickson, H., Tomlin, E., Swain, M.A. (1996).  Modeling and Role-Modeling: A Theory and Paradigm for Nursing.  Austin, Tx; EST Publishers, Inc.
Frisch, N. &  Kelly, J.  (1996). Healing Life's Crises.  Albany, NY: Delmar Publishers, Inc.
Gaut, D.A., & Leininger, M. (Eds.). (1994). Caring as Healing: Renewal Through Hope. New York: National League for Nursing Press.
Goldberg, B. Group. (1993).  Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide, Puyallup, WA: Future Medicine Publishing, Inc
Hover-Kramer, D., Mentgen, J., and Scandrett-Hibdon, S. (1996) Healing Touch: A Resource for Health Care Professionals, Albany, NY: Delmar Publishers, Inc.
Journal Of Holistic Nursing, Official Journal of the American Holistic Nurses' Association: Sage Periodicals Press, A Division of SAGE Publications, Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA
Kahn, S. (1996). The Nurse's Meditative Journal. Albany, NY: Delmar Publishers, Inc.
Keegan, L. (1994). The Nurse as Healer.  Albany, NY: Delmar Publishers, Inc.
Keegan, L. (1996).  Healing Nutrition.  Albany, NY: Delmar Publishers, Inc.
Keegan, L. & Dossey, B. (1997) Profiles of Nurse Healers. Albany, NY: Delmar Publishers, Inc.
Micozzi, M. (ed.) (1996). Fundamentals of Complementary and Alternative Medicine London, England: Churchill Livingstone, Inc.
Newman, M. (1994). Health as Expanding Consciousness, 2cd Edition, New York: National League for Nursing Press
Olson, M. (1996).  Healing the Dying.  Albany, NY: Delmar Publishers, Inc.
Parse, R. (1981). Man-Living-Health:  A theory of nursing. New York: Wiley
Pizzorno, J. (1996). Total Wellness. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing.
Rew, L. (1996).  Awareness in Healing.  Albany, NY:  Delmar Publishers, In c.
Rogers, M. (1992).  Patterns of Rogerian Knowing.  New York: National League for Nursing Press.
Shames, K. (1996).  Creative Imagery in Nursing.  Albany, NY: Delmar Publishers, Inc.
Umlauf, M.G. (1996).  Healing Meditation.  Albany, NY: Delmar Publishers, Inc.
Watson. J. (1988). Nursing: Human Science and Human Care.  New York: National League for Nursing Press.

 

 

 
Suggested Videos and Audiocassettes for Certification Preparation:

 
Holistic Nursing (video) Contact: American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA)  1-800-278-AHNA
At the Heart of Healing:  Experiencing Holistic Nursing (video). Contact: Kineholistic Foundation, PO Box 719, Woodstock, NY,  12398  (800) 255-1914, X 277
A Conversation on Caring with Jean Watson and Janet Quinn Contact: National League for Nursing Press, 350 Hudson Street, New York, NY, 10014  (800) 669-9656, ext. 138
Therapeutic Touch:  Video Course  for  Healthcare Professionals  (by Janet Quinn). New York: National League for Nursing Press.
Therapeutic Touch:  A Home Study Video Course for Family Caregivers  (by Janet Quinn Contact: National League for Nursing Press  (See address above)
The Art of Caring: Holistic Healing using Relaxation, Imagery, Music and Touch (by Barbara Dossey, Lynn Keegan, and Cathie Guzzetta) (Four, one hour audio cassettes with  booklet and CEU option) Contact: Sounds True, 413 S. Arthur Ave., Louisville, CO  80027  (800) 333-9185.

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HN-BC and AHN-BC  RECERTIFICATION

 
Certification is valid for a period of five (5) years from the date appearing on the certificate.  The time frame for certification begins with the first day of the month following which all requirements have been successfully completed.  Renewal notices will be sent approximately six (6) months prior to certification expiration. 

 
HN-BCs  and AHN-BCs seeking Recertification may download the Recertification Application appropriate to the credential..

 
Recertification requires that the Certified Nurse continue to be in good standing and meet recertification requirements in one of two ways:

 
  • Option One:  submit evidence of successful completion of 100 contact hours of Continuing Education in nursing within the five years period preceding the date of expiration of the certification period.   At least twenty percent (20%) of the contact hours must directly address Holistic Nursing.  The remaining contact hours can be related to holistic modalities, methods of practice, studies that facilitate self-care, growth and transformation within a holistic context. The contact hours must be approved by a licensing board, credentialing body, educational institution or other qualified individual or organization.  Appropriate documentation of continued education (such as certificates of completion) must be submitted with application for Recertification.  

 
Recertification with Option One requires submission of several documents no later than 60 days prior to certification expiration. These include:

 
1) Recertification Application form,
2) CE documentation record, and
3) Recertification fee.
 

Failure to submit a complete packet within 60 days prior to certification expiration date results in a late fee of $35.00. Failure to submit a complete packet within 90 days post certification expiration date results in a late fee of $100.00. Packets submitted more than 90 days post certification expiration are not accepted. Appeals for exceptions require AHNCC Board review and will be considered only once in the Certificates lifetime. 

 

 

 

  • Option Two: Successfully complete the full Certification Process including Application to Qualify, Qualitative Assessment and Quantitative Examination.

 

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