ANCC releases role delineation study of seven nurse practitioner specialties: reflects KSAs for NPs in Acute Care, Adult, Family, Geriatrics, Pediatric, and Adult/Family Psychiatric and Mental Health.

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) announced the release of its comprehensive Role Delineation Study for seven separate nurse practitioner (NP) certifications, covering knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) for Acute Care, Adult, Family, Geriatrics, Pediatric, and Adult/Family Psychiatric and Mental Health nurse practitioners. This is the first time ANCC has published one of its studies, which it uses to update test content outlines for its NP certifications that state boards of nursing frequently use as a proxy for licensure.

"ANCC believes that publishing the study is a substantial service to many publics," says Certification Services Director Mary Smolenski, EdD, APRN, BC, FAANP. "Nursing faculty, health care executives, members of nursing boards, and others who want to gain a better understanding of the scope and complexity of current practices among nurse practitioners will find it tremendously useful."

The 180-page study gleans data from a survey of 1,800 NPs across the United States, analyzing the roles and performance expectations of entry-level nurse practitioners. It also includes cross comparison of work activities that allows comparison of rank order results across the seven specialty groups. The study also identifies the work activities that were significantly different among the groups. Additionally, it includes the test content outlines of all respective ANCC NP exams.

Assuring that its certification exams reflect the most up-to-date practices, ANCC conducts role delineation studies for its certifications approximately every five years. Currently, ANCC offers eight different NP certifications. In November 2004, more than 59,500 individuals retained active NP certifications through ANCC.

About ANCC

ANCC is the nation's leading nursing credentialing center, offering general and advanced practice certification in over 35 specialty areas. In addition, ANCC offers continuing nursing education contact hours and review course materials thereby enhancing professional continued competency through its Institute for Credentialing Innovation. Further, it accredits agencies, organizations, facilities, schools and others who offer or approve continuing education courses for registered nurses, and promotes excellence in nursing services through its Magnet Recognition Program[TM]. Each ANCC program is offered on an international platform through the ANCC Credentialing International program. The American Nurses Credentialing Center is a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association.

To find more information or purchase copies, please visit www.nursecredentialing.org.