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NNECOS OCN Review 2017Wrap-up and Information on Testing

Nicole Messier, BSN, RN, OCN, ONN-CG

• Describe the importance of certification• Demonstrate knowledge/understanding of content areas

of the OCN® test blueprint • List resources to aid in preparation for the OCN exam

Objectives

• What is Certification?

• The formal recognition of specialized knowledge, skills, and experience in nursing

• Demonstrated by achieving standards identified by a nursing specialty to promote health outcomes

• Certification assures the public a nurse has completed all eligibility criteria to earn a specific credential

• Promotes the development of specialty nursing by establishing minimum competency standards and recognizing those who have met the standards

OCN REVIEW

• What is Certification?

• Certification is the formal process by which a certifying agency validates a nurse’s knowledge, skills, and abilities in a defined role and clinical area of practice, based on predetermined standards. Nurses achieve certification credentials through specialized education, experience in a specialty area, and a qualifying exam.

• Official recognition of achievement, expertise, and clinical judgement.

• Mark of Excellence that requires continued learning and skill development to maintain

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• Why Certify?

• Credentialing advances the profession of nursing by both encouraging and recognizing professional achievement

• Protects the public• Identifies individuals with certain knowledge and skills• Assures consumers that professionals have met standards of practice• Demonstrates an individual’s commitment to a profession and to lifelong

learning• Provides a sense of pride and professional accomplishment

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• Why You Should Be Certified!

• Certification in oncology nursing can:

• • Validate your specialized knowledge• • Increase your confidence in your abilities• • Contribute to your personal satisfaction• • Demonstrate your commitment to your specialty and your patients

OCN REVIEW

• Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation125 Enterprise DrivePittsburgh, PA 15275877-769-ONCC412-859-6104412-859-6168 (fax)

• E-mail: oncc@oncc.org• Web site: www.oncc.org

OCN REVIEW

• Read the OCN Test Bulletin• ONCC’s testing agency is Pearson VUE

– www.pearsonvue.com• Type of Oncology Certification

– Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN)• Test dates: No Deadline dates-Submit an application, fees, and

all required documentation, and receive your Authorization to Test within four weeks if you are eligible. A 90-day period will be provided for you to schedule an appointment and take the test.

The Test

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http://www.oncc.org/certifications/oncology-certified-nurse-ocn

2017 TEST DATES, APPLICATION DEADLINES & FEESTEST DATES Application Deadline Date Test Fee

February 1 ‐ December 30, 2017 No Deadline Dates*ONS Member

Nonmember

$286$406 

*Candidates who apply after September 1 may not be accommodated, or may be accommodated in a test period of less than 90 days. Candidates who accept an abbreviated test window may have limited choices of test dates and locations.

• OCN® Test

• OCN® Test consists of 165 multiple-choice items. Of those, 145 items count toward the candidate’s score and 20 are "pretest" or experimental items

• Candidates will have a three hour testing session, which includes 10 minutes for a computer-based testing tutorial and 5 minutes for an exit survey

• Please note that only generic drug names are used on ONCC tests

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• Overview of OCN® Exam

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• ONCC examinations are administered by computer-based testing

• at nearly 300 Pearson Professional Centers

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• Eligibility• A current, active, unrestricted RN license at the time of application and

examination

• A minimum of one year (12 months) of experience as an RN within the three years (36 months) prior to the application deadline date

• A minimum of 1,000 hours of adult oncology nursing practice within the two-and-one-half years (30 months) prior to the application deadline date

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• Eligibility

• Completed a minimum of 10 contact hours of continuing nursing education or an academic elective in oncology nursing within the three years (36 months) prior to the application deadline date

• The contact hours must have been provided or formally approved by an accredited provider or approver of continuing nursing education

• Up to five (50%) of the 10 required contact hours may be accredited CME in oncology.

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OCN® Test Blueprint

Health Promotion, Screening, and Early Detection — 6%

A. Health promotionB. Epidemiology (e.g., at-risk populations, occupations, age)C. Prevention (e.g., high-risk behaviors, preventative health

practices)D. Screening and early detection

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OCN® Test BlueprintII. Scientific Basis for Practice — 9%

A. CarcinogenesisB. ImmunologyC. Genetic risk factorsD. Research protocolsE. Clinical trialsF. Regarding specific cancer types:

1. pathophysiology2. common metastatic sites3. diagnostic measures4. prognosis5. classification6. staging7. histologic grading

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OCN® Test Blueprint

III. Treatment Modalities — 16%A. SurgeryB. Blood and marrow transplantC. Radiation therapyD. ChemotherapyE. Targeted therapiesF. Biotherapy

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OCN® Test Blueprint

IV. Symptom Management — 22%A. Etiology and patterns of symptoms (acute, chronic, late)B. Toxicity and grading scalesC. Anatomical and surgical alterationsD. Pharmacologic interventionsE. Complementary and integrative modalities (e.g., massage,

acupuncture, herbal supplements)

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OCN® Test Blueprint

IV. Symptom Management — 22%F. Alterations in:

1. hematologic function2. immune function3. gastrointestinal function4. genitourinary function5. integumentary function

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OCN® Test Blueprint

IV. Symptom Management — 22%F. Alterations in:

6. respiratory function7. cardiovascular function8. neurological function9. musculoskeletal function10. nutritional status11. comfort (e.g., pain)

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OCN® Test Blueprint

V. Psychosocial Dimensions of Care — 8%

A. Cultural, spiritual, and religious diversityB. Financial concerns (including available resources)C. Altered body imageD. Support groupsE. Learning styles and barriers to learningF. Social relationships and family dynamicsG. Coping mechanisms and skills

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OCN® Test Blueprint

V. Psychosocial Dimensions of Care — 8%H. Psychosocial disturbances and alterations

1. anxiety2. loss and grief3. depression4. loss of personal control

I. Sexuality1. reproductive issues (contraception and fertility)2. STD and HIV risk3. sexual dysfunction (physical and psychological (effects)4. intimacy

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OCN® Test Blueprint

VI. Oncologic Emergencies — 12%A. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)B. Thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura (TTP)C. Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion(SIADH)D. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)E. SepsisF. Septic shockG. Tumor lysis syndromeH. HypersensitivityI. Anaphylaxis

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OCN® Test Blueprint

VI. Oncologic Emergencies — 12%J. HypercalcemiaK. Cardiac tamponadeL. Spinal cord compressionM. Superior vena cava syndromeN. Increased intracranial pressureO. Obstructions (bowel and urinary)P. PneumonitisQ. Extravasations

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OCN® Test Blueprint

VII. Survivorship — 8%A. Early and late effects

1. psychosocial2. cognitive3. physical

B. Recurrence and/or secondary malignanciesC. RehabilitationD. Long-term follow-up

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OCN® Test Blueprint

VII. Survivorship — 8%E. Concerns:

1. financial2. employment3. insurance4. discrimination5. family and social support6. sexuality

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OCN® Test BlueprintVIII. Palliative and End of Life Care —11%

A. Palliative careB. Hospice careC. GriefD. BereavementE. Community resourcesF. Reimbursement (e.g., Medicare Hospice Benefit)G. Caregiver supportH. Interdisciplinary teamI. Comfort measures

1. pharmacologic2. non-pharmacologic

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OCN® Test Blueprint

IX. Professional Performance — 8%A. Local, state, and national resourcesB. Scope and standards of oncology nursing practiceC. Evidence-based practiceD. Education process (teaching and learning principles)E. Legal issues (including documentation)F. Ethical issuesG. Patient advocacy

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OCN® Test Blueprint

IX. Professional Performance — 8%H. Navigation throughout the cancer continuumI. Quality improvementJ. Professional developmentK. Multidisciplinary collaborationL. Accreditation standards (e.g., The Joint Commission)

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• Develop a study plan

• Topics, timeline, resources• Recognize your learning style• Schedule regular times to study- 1 hour increments• Cramming is counterproductive• Focus on general material – most of the material is basic and does not

require constant updating• It can take up to 6-12 months for new information to be incorporated into

test questions

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• ONCC Practice Tests

• ONCC web-based Practice Tests simulate the testing experience and help you to become familiar with the types of items found on ONCC examinations. They may also help candidates assess their strengths and weaknesses in subject areas covered on the examinations.

• Each Practice Test includes a set of 50 items or questions. The same 50 items will appear each time a test is used, although they may be presented in a different order. You may take the Practice Test as often as you wish during the allotted time period. This tests must be completed online, there are no paper tests.

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• ONCC Practice Tests

• Free Practice Tests: There are 50 items on each test. You may use these tests as often as you like. These tests must be completed online. Like all ONCC Practice Tests, the items on the free Practice Test do not change each time it is used.

• Purchase Practice Tests: Additional 50-item Practice Tests can be purchased. These tests must be completed online. There are no hard-copy tests. Purchasers will have access to purchased tests for 14 days, and may take the test as often as desired during the 14-day period. The same 50 items will appear on the test each time it is used.

• https://practicetests.oncc.org/FreeTests.aspx

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• Practice, Practice, Practice

• Take practice tests- timed at two minutes for each question- goal 9 of 10 answers correct

• Then timed at 1.5 minutes for each question- goal of 9 of 10 answers correct

• Then timed at 1 minutes for each question- goal of 9 of 10 answers correct

Test-Taking Strategies

• Using practice tests in a timed environment helps reduce anxiety when it’s time for the real thing

• Helps facilitate working at a steady pace

Test-Taking Strategies

• The night before the exam• Know test site location, make a “dry run”• Get a good night’s sleep• Eat sensibly- avoid alcohol• Assemble required materials: ID, admission card• Know the exam room rules: no water or food, no

phones• TIME TO PUT THE BOOKS AWAY

Test-Taking Strategies

• The day of the exam

• Wear comfortable, layered clothing• Eat breakfast, avoid too much caffeine• Get there early• Wear a watch, keep track of time• No cell phones!• Think positively

BREATHE

Test-Taking Strategies

OCN REVIEW RESOURCES

• American Cancer Society. (2014). Cancer facts and figures 2014. Retrieved from • http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@research/documents/webcontent/acspc-042151.pdf

• Brown, C.G. (Ed.). (2010). A guide to oncology symptom management. Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Society.

• Burke, C.C. (Ed.). (2009). Psychosocial dimensions of oncology nursing care (2nd ed.). Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Society.

• Eggert, J. (Ed.). (2010). Cancer basics. Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Society.

• Ferrell, B.R., & Coyle, N. (Eds.). (2010). Oxford textbook of palliative nursing (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

• Iwamoto, R.R., Haas, M.L., & Gosselin, T.K. (Eds.). (2012). Manual for radiation oncology nursing practice and education (4th ed.). Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Society.

• Newton, S., Hickey, M., & Marrs, J. (2009). Mosby’s oncology nursing advisor: A comprehensive guide to clinical practice (2nd ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby.

• Polovich, M., Olsen, M., & LeFebvre, K. (Eds.). (2014). Chemotherapy and biotherapy guidelines and recommendations for practice (4th ed.). Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Society.

• Vallerand, A.H., & Sanoski, C.A. (2014). Davis’s drug guide for nurses (14th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis.

• Yarbro, C.H., Wujcik, D., & Gobel, B.H. (Eds.). (2011). Cancer nursing: Principles and practice (7th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett.

•

Primary References

• Almadrones-Cassidy, L. (Ed.). (2010). Site-specific cancer series: Gynecologic cancers. Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Society.

• American Cancer Society. (2012). Cancer facts and figures for Hispanics/Latinos 2012–2014. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@epidemiologysurveilance/documents/document/acspc-034778.pdf

• American Cancer Society. (2013). Cancer facts and figures for African Americans 2013-2014. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@epidemiologysurveilance/documents/document/acspc-036921.pdf

• American Cancer Society. (2013). Cancer Treatment & Survivorship Facts & Figures (2014-2015). Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@research/documents/document/acspc-042801.pdf

• Bastable, S.B. (Ed.). (2013). Nurse as educator: Principles of teaching and learning for nursing practice (4th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett.

• Brant, J.M., & Wickham, R.S. (Eds.). (2013). Statement on the scope and standards of oncology nursing practice: Generalist and advanced practice. Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Society.

• Camp-Sorrell, D. (Ed.). (2011). Access device guidelines: Recommendations for nursing practice and education (3rd ed.). Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Society.

• Eaton, L.H., & Tipton, J.M. (Eds.). (2009). Putting evidence into practice: Improving oncology patient outcomes. Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Society.

• Eaton, L.H., Tipton, J.M., & Irwin, M. (Eds.). (2011). Putting evidence into practice: Improving oncology patient outcomes, volume 2. Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Society.

Supplemental References

• Esper, P., & Kuebler, K.K. (Eds.). (2008). Palliative practices from A–Z for the bedside clinician (2nd ed.). Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Society.

• Ezzone, S. (Ed.). (2013). Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A manual for nursing practice. (2nd ed.). Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Society.

• Gullatte, M.M. (Ed.). (2011). Nursing management: Principles and practice (2nd ed.). Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Society.

• Ignatavicius, D.D., & Workman, M.L. (Eds.). (2013). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered collaborative care (7th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders.

• Jacobs, L.A. (Ed.). (2003). Standards of oncology nursing education: Generalist and advanced practice levels (3rd ed.). Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Society.

• Mahon, S.M. (Ed.). (2011). Site-specific cancer series: Breast cancer (2nd ed.). Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Society.

• Oncology Nursing Society. (n.d.). Oncology Nursing Society positions. Retrieved from http://www.ons.org/publications/positions

Supplemental References

GOOD LUCK!