Volunteer as an ANCC Item Writer and Save While Attending the 2011 NACNS Annual Conference in Baltimore, MD!

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) is seeking item writers for the CNS in Pediatric Nursing and the CNS in Gerontological Nursing certification examinations.

In conjunction with the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) annual conference in March 2011, ANCC is offering two test item writing workshops. The workshops will be held at the American Nurses Association (ANA) headquarters in Silver Spring, MD, which is approximately a 30-minute drive from Baltimore, MD. The workshop dates are March 7-9 (Pediatrics) and March 14-16 (Gerontological), scheduled just prior to and after the NACNS conference.

Qualified items writers are nurses who are educated and practicing as clinical nurse specialists in one of these two practice specialties. ANCC certification is NOT required for participation in these workshops. Item writers agree to write 35 test items over a three-month period.

Specialty	Workshop Date
CNS in Pediatric Nursing	March 7-9, 2011 (Pre-Conference)
CNS in Gerontological Nursing	March 14-16, 2011 (Post-Conference)

Application Deadline: September 30, 2010

Benefits for Selected Item Writers

1.	ANCC will purchase a round-trip airline ticket to Baltimore, MD for attendance at the NACNS conference;
2.	ANCC will provide four nights of hotel accommodation at the Courtyard by Marriott in Silver Spring, MD during the workshop;
3.	ANCC will provide the ground transportation between Silver Spring and Baltimore, MD;
4.	ANCC will reimburse for four days of per diem, based on the current federal government guidelines of $71.00/day, and miscellaneous expenses (e.g., taxi from the airport to your home, tolls, luggage fees) after the completion of writing 35 test items;
5.	ANCC will award 19.5 hours of continuing education (CE) credits for attending either workshop and completing 35 test items;
6.	For those who are certified by ANCC as a CNS in Pediatric or Gerontological Nursing, ANCC will grant a 20-hour reduction in the CE requirement for your next ANCC recertification for completing the 35 test items;
7.	For those who are not certified by ANCC as a CNS in Pediatric or Gerontological Nursing, ANCC will grant a $50 fee reduction to be applied toward the cost of taking the ANCC CNS in Pediatric or Gerontological Nursing certification examinations after March 2013.

Thus, you can attend the NACNS conference at a reduced cost by paying only the NACNS conference registration fee and hotel expenses during the annual conference. This translates into a savings of at least $500, including airline fare, miscellaneous expenses, and hotel accommodations for the workshop. Please note that attendance at the NACNS annual conference is NOT required to be eligible to participate in the item writing workshops.

Additional Qualifications for Selected Item Writers

•	A Master's degree in nursing; a current license to practice as a registered nurse; and current practice as a CNS, or in teaching CNS students, within the specified population.
•	Access to the references on the examination's approved reference list, using the Internet or a local library. During the workshop, reference lists will be distributed and the ANCC library will be available for use.
•	Access to a private computer with Internet connectivity using Firefox 3.5 or Internet Explorer 7.0.
•	Commitment to developing 35 quality test items, typically requiring 1 to 1.5 hours to research, draft, and revise each item. ANCC reserves the right to seek reimbursement for expenses incurred on your behalf if you do not complete the item writing assignment.
•	A signed conflict of interest statement and affidavit of confidentiality.
•	A signed statement of eligibility to sit for an ANCC certification examination.

ANCC selects item writers based upon the breadth and depth of the applicants' experience, and will notify those who are selected within three weeks of the application deadline. ANCC will contact selected item writers with the necessary information for making travel arrangements through the ANA travel agency.

To Apply

1.	Go to www.nursecredentialing.org/ItemWritersApplication to complete an ANCC item writer application form.
2.	Review and sign an Eligibility Requirements form.
3.	Mail, e-mail, or fax the above forms—along with a copy of your resume or curriculum vitae—to ANCC (contact information is provided on the item writer application) by September 30, 2010.

For more information about becoming an item writer, please e-mail ANCCItemWriter@ana.org or call 1-800-284-2378 and ask for Marcie Scott (ext. 5309) or Kathleen Maguire (ext. 5215).

ANCC welcomes your interest in this invaluable project to advance the profession of clinical nurse specialists!