A report on the Council on Certification 1996 Professional Practice Analysis

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Anesthesia Practice Analysis
• Professional Certification

Background:

• Overview of the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists (CCNA) 1996 Professional Practice Analysis.
• Utilized to update previous content validation studies for nurse anesthesia certification.

Discussion:

• Survey distributed to 2,859 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) with a 63.7% response rate.
• Gathered data on demographics, practice settings, education, and core knowledge areas.
• Assessed frequency and expertise levels for patient conditions, procedures, agents, techniques, equipment, and technology.

Key Insights:

• Results from the 1996 analysis were consistent with prior studies.
• The Rasch rating scale model was employed for data transformation.
• CCNA members reviewed findings and voted to retain the existing test blueprint.

Outlook:

• Validation of current nurse anesthesia practice standards.
• Ensures continued alignment between certification exams and professional practice.
• Foundation for future content validation and curriculum development in nurse anesthesia.