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The purpose of the AANA Continuing
Education approval process is to assure that continuing education for
nurse anesthetists is appropriate for recertification purposes. The AANA
has established standards (principles) and criteria for its CE Program
to ensure quality CE for nurse anesthetists. Due to the fact that CE
credits are required for recertification purposes, the criteria have
been defined in a manner that recognizes those programs for credit whose
content is relevant to the practice of anesthesia or which contribute to
the improvement of anesthesia practice. Because the AANA has specific
parameters upon which to base their CE approval process which is
directly linked to the recertification process, it carries out its
responsibilities to the public with respect to assuring that the
continuing education process is a meaningful one for purposes of
credentialing in the field of nurse anesthesia and for the highest
quality of patient safety and patient care.
The CE Committee uses these
standards and criteria to evaluate applications for approval of CE
credits. The role of the CE Committee is to approve programs that are
appropriate for the continuing education and recertification of nurse
anesthetists. All applicants must adhere to the following standards and
criteria.
Standard I: Official
Application for Providers
Any
providers of CE for nurse anesthetists who request approval from the
AANA must obtain and submit an appropriate application to the AANA’s
CE Department.
Criteria
A. Applications must be
typewritten or legibly handwritten.
B. Applications for prior approval must provide the following:
1. Application fee
2. Date and location of CE activity
3. CE credits (contact hours) requested
4. Purpose/Goal(s)
5. Planning
6. Needs assessment/target audience
7. Learner objectives (learner outcomes)
8. Content
9. Teaching methods
10. Faculty
11. Physical facilities/resources
12. Recordkeeping
13. Verification of attendance
14. Evaluation
C. Applications for nonprior
approval must include all required documentation, as specified on the
form.
D. CE activities must be appropriate for certified registered nurse
anesthetists and their recertification process.
Standard II: Purpose/Goals
Eligible CE
activities support and promote quality CE for nurse anesthetists. The
program’s statement of purpose must include information to
substantiate this standard. The purpose/goal(s) is a statement of the
"what" and the "why" of the activity.
Criteria
A. The overall intent for
whom, what and why of the CE activity must be described.
B. The statement of purpose must describe how the CE activity will
enhance the quality of care provided by nurse anesthetists.
Standard
III: Planning
A planning
process for developing, implementing, and evaluating the CE activity
must be in place.
Criteria:
A. The person responsible
for planning and implementing the CE activity must be identified.
B. Others involved in the planning process must also be identified.
C. The resumes of the program coordinator and members of the planning
committee must be submitted.
D. It is recommended that the designated "nurse planner" be a
CRNA with a graduate degree, and have at least one degree in nursing.
Standard
IV: Needs Assessment/Target Audience
The CE
activity must have been developed on the basis of a documented need of
the potential target audience.
Criteria:
A. The target audience for
the CE activity must be identified.
B. The method by which the need for the CE activity was assessed and
validated must be described.
Standard
V: Learner Objectives (Learner Outcomes)
Learner
objectives (outcomes) for the CE activity must be stated in behavioral
terms.
Criteria:
A. Objectives must flow
from the purpose/goal and be consistent with the identified needs of the
target audience (learner).
B. Objectives must clearly define expected outcomes for the learner.
C. Objectives must be stated in behavioral terms that are measurable, so
that the learner can readily assess the achievement of each.
Standard
VI: Content
The content
of the CE activity must support the purpose, allow for achievement of
the objectives (outcomes), and meet the needs of the target audience.
Criteria:
A. The content must not
only meet the needs of the participants but also promote enhanced
practice for nurse anesthetists.
B. The content must flow from learner objectives (outcomes).
C. The content must be described in outline form, with corresponding
time frames for each area. The provider must submit sufficient content
to enable the CE Committee to adequately appraise its relevance and
value to nurse anesthetists.
D. The time allotted for the CE activity must be consistent with the
learner objectives and appropriate to the content being presented.
E. An hourly schedule of the order of the content must be set forth;
i.e., presentation, meals, breaks, etc.
Standard
VII: Teaching Methods
Teaching
methods must be consistent with the content and learner objectives and
reflect the use of adult principles of learning.
Criteria:
A. Teaching methods must facilitate learning and maximize the
achievement of identified objectives.
B. The provider must explain how adult principles of learning are
reflected in the teaching methods.
Standard
VIII: Faculty
The faculty
members for the CE activity must deliver content in an area in which
they have knowledge and expertise and must take an active part in
planning their presentations.
Criteria:
A. The provider must
describe how the faculty members participate in planning their
presentations.
B. The provider must submit the name, title, and credentials that
identify the educational/academic preparation and professional
qualifications of each faculty member; short resumes must be provided
upon request.
C. Curriculum vitae information must validate faculty members’ content
expertise and experience in the subject matter.
Standard
IX: Physical Facilities/Resources
The site
for the CE activity must be suitable in terms of teaching methods,
environmental comfort, and target audience accessibility. Resources
allocated for the CE activity must be adequate to provide for a quality
CE effort.
Criteria:
A. The provider must
describe the physical facility and its suitability.
B. The provider must describe the human, financial, and material
resources that will be used to implement a quality CE activity.
Standard
X: Recordkeeping
Records
must be maintained for the CE activity for a period of 60 months.
Criteria:
A. The provider must
maintain the following information: needs assessment; target audience;
purpose; planning committee; learner objectives; content; faculty;
teaching and evaluation methods; title, date, and site of activity; name
of the person responsible for coordinating and implementing the
activity; participant roster, with names and addresses of participants;
summary of participant evaluations; and the number of CE credits
(contact hours) awarded to each participant; verification of completion
process and a copy of certificate awarded; marketing materials;
co-provider/sponsor agreement (if applicable); documentation, if
commercial support, of how program integrity maintained; proof of
disclaimers or declarations regarding vested interest by each presenter.
B. This information must be stored securely and be retrievable for at
least 60 months.
Standard
XI: Verification of Attendance
Participants
must receive a certificate of attendance that verifies their
participation in or attendance at the CE activity.
Criteria:
A. Certificates of
attendance are issued to all participants upon successful completion of
the CE activity.
B. Such certificates of attendance must include the following
information: name of participant; title, date and location of CE
activity; name, address, and signature of provider; AANA membership
number and/or recertification number; AANA code number and expiration
date; and number of CE credits (contact hours) awarded.
C. The provider must submit a sample of the certificate of attendance
awarded each participant with the application for approval.
D. The provider must submit three copies of certificates of attendance
that were actually issued to three CRNAs attending the program with the
attendance record.
Standard
XII: Evaluation
There must
be a clearly defined method of evaluating the CE activity.
Criteria:
A. The provider must
submit an evaluation tool that includes an appraisal of the following:
1. The learner’s achievement
of each objective.
2. The teaching effectiveness of each faculty member/ presenter.
3. The relevance of content to objectives.
4. The effectiveness of teaching methods.
5. The appropriateness of physical facilities.
6. The achievement of personal objectives by the learner.
B. The provider must state how
planners and faculty, as well as learners, participated in the
evaluation and how results will be used.
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