MFP Fellow Alice Ball Britt Appointed as ANCC Content Expert Panelist (3/4/05)
Unsure of what to expect vis a’ vis functioning as a member of the content expert panel (CEP) for psychiatric/mental health clinical nurse specialists, I decided to keep an open mind. However, even with having entered this experience with an open mind, I did not expect what I was encountered with. The position of a CEP member summons every bit of academic knowledge and clinical expertise you have.
Essentially, the panel reviews all of the test items for the national credentialing exam for prospective candidates. The review requires the members to possess a command of theoretical and clinical content not only in nursing, but in psychology, sociology, and medical science as well.
Examples of some of the various tasks the panel performs are: a) assess the complexity of the questions to ensure that it has been written at the level, which will test the knowledge of an advanced practice registered nurse; b) critique the questions for accuracy; c) ensure that the test items are extant; d) balance out the types of questions addressed, i.e. research question, theory question, biomedical question, psychopharmacology question, etc.; and e) evaluate the questions to taxonomically place them. We actually reviewed 500 plus questions in three days, although there was a lot of house cleaning business that needed to be taken care of as well. Other tasks that we performed include updating the criteria for CEP membership requirements and developing a comprehensive reference list for prospective candidates. It was an intense and invaluable experience. My only regret or concern is that I was the only minority representative on the panel.
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