Board Certification in Occupational Health Nursing

Board Certification in Occupational Health Nursing

Why is Certification in a Nursing Specialty Important? Institute of Medicine (IOM) Future of Nursing study found – “To ensure continuing safety of patients, IOM has recommended that healthcare providers be reevaluated and relicensed periodically” Certification is the accepted method to validate knowledge, skills, and abilities It is a mark of excellence that benefits the healthcare practitioner, public, consumer (patient, worker), and healthcare organizations

Reflection When you are selecting a treating physician, do you prefer to find one who is board certified in the specialty? Why wouldn’t it be the same for nursing?

Board Certification in Occupational Health Nursing by the American Board for Occupational Health Nurses (ABOHN) ABOHN MISSION IS TO PROMOTE A STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE IN OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH NURSING THROUGH CERTIFICATION ABOHN IS THE SOLE CERTIFYING AGENCY IN THE U.S. FOR OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH NURSES CERTIFICATION EXAMINATIONS MEET THE RIGOROUS STANDARDS FOR ACCREDITATION BY THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CERTIFYING AGENCIES (NCCA)

Demonstrates knowledge & competence Indication of specialty expertise What are the Benefits of ABOHN Board Certificat ion? Demonstrates commitment to lifelong learning Recognized by industry and regulatory agencies as mark of prestige Other health & safety disciplines recognize as a sign of excellence Significant personal & professional accomplishment Leads to career advancement opportunities Employers use certification in employment decisions Demonstrates commitment to worker health and safety Networking opportunities Leads to increases in pay and promotions

What Certifications are Offered by ABOHN? Core Credentials Certified Occupational Health Nurse (COHN) Certified Occupational Health Nurse-Specialist (COHN-S) Additional Specialty Credential Case Management (CM)

Which certification exam is the right one for you? ABOHN routinely conducts a Practice Analysis to ensure exams reflect current practice Thorough analysis of OHN practice is conducted to assure examinations are reliable and valid Recent practice analysis continues to demonstrate that the primary focus of COHN is clinical/patient care, and the primary focus of COHN-S is managerial/administrative Both certifications are recognized as demonstration of excellence in the field

What are the eligibility requirements to take the examinations? COHN Active RN license 3000 hours experience in occupational health nursing within the past five years COHN-S Active RN license 3000 hours experience in occupational health nursing within the past five years Bachelor or higher degree CM (Additional Credential) Currently active as a COHN or COHN-S Additional 10 continuing education hours in case management

What are the costs to take the examinations? COHN and COHN-S Application and Examination Fees Category Application Examination Fee Details 150.00 Good for 90 days from the date of approval by the ABOHN office. 400.00 *Must be paid within 90 days of receipt of invoice from the ABOHN office and is good for 120 days. Case Management Application and Examination Fees Category Application Examination Fee Details 150.00 Good for 90 days from the date of approval by the ABOHN office. 250.00 *Must be paid within 90 days of receipt of invoice from the ABOHN office and is good for 120 days.

What are the requirements to maintain the credential? Credential holder is responsible to continue an annual upkeep of their credential(s) Annual Renewal fee for COHN/COHN-S is 150 Recertification documentation is due every 5 years Case management credential is an additional annual fee of 50 Recertification includes the annual fee, documentation of required CEUs and hours working in OHN specialty

What additional value does ABOHN provide? Job Postings – Specific to credential holders Online database directory of current certified OHNs Networking Opportunities Facebook and LinkedIn Resources Career Guide ABOHN Report Spring and Fall Issues Weekly emails with updates and helpful information Continuing Education Links Digital Badges – includes your certification credentials, expiration date

Certification in Occupational Health Nursing Recognizes expertise, knowledge, experience, and judgment in occupational health nursing Benefits of certification include personal growth, career advancement, financial reward, and professional recognition Board certification with ABOHN provides ongoing support, job postings, newsletters and other resources

Next Step: Invest in Yourself & Your Future! Questions? Contact ABOHN Call: 630-789-5799 Website: www.abohn.org Email: [email protected]