Evaluation of a Nurse Practitioner Accreditation Program Pilot Study

Evaluation of a Nurse Practitioner Accreditation Program Pilot Study

DATE & TIME

Tuesday, Feb 7, 12noon Eastern
(Duration: 1 hour)

DESCRIPTION

Nurses in advanced practice roles have existed in Canada for a century, however only in the last two decades, have nurse practitioners (NPs) been recognized as advanced practice nurses (APNs). During this time, the number of NP education programs has increased and have transitioned from post-baccalaureate to graduate and post-graduate level. In 2018, the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing’s (CASN) board of directors had discussions focused on the quality of graduate nursing education, specifically NP education, and passed a motion to provide a voluntary NP accreditation program. An accreditation pilot study of three (one collaborative between a community college and university) NP programs was undertaken in 2019-2020 to ensure the accreditation process was relevant and responsive to the needs of the discipline and promoted high quality NP education. After the pilot study was completed, focus groups were held virtually in 2020 with NP stakeholders including program heads, faculty, accreditation pilot reviewers, and the CASN Accreditation Board (CAB). The purpose of this paper is to disseminate the findings from the pilot study focus group evaluations and the proposed revisions to the accreditation standards, to strengthen them. The standards will be utilized in Canada to improve the consistency and quality of nurse practitioner education programs in Canada and abroad in the coming years.

LEARNER OBJECTIVES

1. Discuss the relevance for introducing an NP Accreditation Program in Canada.
   
2. Appraise how accreditation standards contribute to improving quality NP education.
3. Identify strategies for international collaboration to improve consistency and quality of NP education programs.
   

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

• NP program administrators
  
• NP faculty
  
• Nursing regulators

PRESENTER

Eric Staples, NP, RN, Miller Fellow, FCAN; Advanced Practice Nursing Consultant; Lancaster, Ontario, Canada

Eric is an APN Consultant. He is a graduate of the first post-graduate ACNP program in Ontario in 1995 from University of Toronto, and held Assistant Professor roles at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he implemented the APN stream in 1998; McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario as Regional NP Coordinator in the Ontario PHCNP Program. Eric serves/has served on several CASN committees related to NP education, preceptorship, prescribing, and the development of the position statement on doctoral education in Canada. He is a member of the RNAO’s NPIG Executive and co-leads the NP Mentorship Program. In May he completed the inaugural post-doctoral System Nurse Executive Leadership post-doctoral program from Case Western University. Eric was the lead developer and editor for the inaugural edition of Canadian Perspectives in Advanced Practice Nursing, published in 2016 with a 2nd edition published in 2020. In 2022, Eric was inducted as a Fellow of the Canadian Nurses Association.

NURSING CEs

• This course has been approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, provider #CEP16785, for a maximum of 1.00 Nursing Contact Hour. The licensee must retain this document for a period of four (4) years after the course concludes.
  
• All participants will receive their certificate of attendance with CE after completion of the webinar survey. An archive will be available if you are unable to participate in the live webinar. CE may be requested after viewing the recorded session.

CANCELLATION POLICY

No refunds due to cancellation. An archive will be available if you are unable to participate in the live webinar.