______
The National Certification Corporation PO Box 11080 Chicago, IL 60611 312-475-3732 www.nccnet.org
Dear Colleague:
You have taken the first step to making a difference in the NCC certification program by volunteering to become an item writer for one of NCC certification or subspecialty examinations. On behalf of the NCC Board of Directors, I want to offer my thanks to you for sharing your expertise with NCC on this important aspect of certification.
Enclosed you will find the following items:
¨ Click on the Item Writing Manual link on the Website
The Item Writing Manual will give you an organizational overview of NCC and the test development process as well as specific instruction on how to write items for NCC in the NCC style. It is essential that you review the Item Writing and write questions in accordance with the guidelines. Failure to meet the item writing or submission guidelines will result in the return of the items to you. No continuing education contact hours can be earned for items that are returned.
¨ Item Submission Template Form
This will advise you of the format in which items must be submitted. You must include a copy of the reference you are using to document your question and items must be submitted one item per page.
¨ List of Topic Areas
Listed below are the general topics from the NCC Content Outline for each of the NCC examinations. If you want more detail on the content areas, visit the NCC website www.nccwebsite.org. From the homepage, click on the Certification Tab and then the exam for which you are interested in writing items. Select the Candidate Guide link to view a detailed outline.
¨ Submission of a Rationale for Each Item Submitted
Rationales provide a context for the questions and will assist item reviewers in their review of the questions. Rationales discuss the reasons for the right answer is right and the wrong answer is wrong as well as if warranted context of why the question is a good assessment of knowledge. Samples of rationales are provided in this document.
You can write on any topic but we encourage you to write practice- based, management and application type questions. Most of the NCC examinations have been given over a long period of time and the basic type of information is well covered in the item bank. Practice-based questions are what are the most needed. Write your questions from what occurs in your own practice setting.
You can write up to 10 questions and earn a maximum of 10 contact hours (one contact hour for each question) for use in maintaining your NCC certification. Use of this continuing education credit by parties other than NCC maintenance cannot be guaranteed. You can participate in the program once in every three year cycle of your certification. Items are processed and reviewed on the following schedule:
Items received by Continuing education will be awarded by
January –March April 15
April - June July 15
July-September October 15
October-December January 15
Items should be returned to: NCC Attn: Betty Burns, 142 E. Ontario #1700, Chicago, IL 60611.
Thank you for your participation. We look forward to receiving your questions.
Suzanne L. Reiter, WHNP-BC, MM, MSN, SANE-A
President
NCC Item Submission Form Template
Content Category:
Answer :
______
All questions should be TYPED and include
Designated answer
Item
Rationale
Item Reference
Content Category (for this purpose, master editor will assign the category for your questions)
A rationale for each question is required.
The reference should include
¨ Title
¨ Author
¨ Publisher
¨ Date of Publication (i.e. 2008)
¨ Page number(s) of cited reference (please include a photocopy of the pages) You do not need to include title pages but make sure to record all the information asked for as noted above.
A photocopy of the reference should be attached to each item.
The section of the reference which specifically validates the question should be noted, marked with an * in margin or underlined. Please do not highlight, as this causes the material to be blotted out when copied.
Each question should be reproduced on a separate page.
Questions should be TYPED or COMPUTER GENERATED.
Please do NOT staple or paper clip questions to the references. Just put them in order with the item on top with reference following.
Title ______
Author ______
Publisher ______
(please include date /year of the publication)
Page(s) ______
Item Writer ______
Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner Examination - Content Grid
10.00 / PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSTIC EDUCATION10.01 / Health History and Physical Exam
10.02 / Diagnostic Studies/Laboratory Tests
11.00 / PRIMARY CARE
11.01 / Recognition, Basic Management and/or Referral of Common Health Problems
11.02 / Health Promotion and Patient Counseling
12.00 / GYNECOLOGY
12.01 / Gynecologic – Normal
12.02 / Gynecologic – Deviations
12.03 / Fertility Control
13.00 / OBSTETRICS
13.01 / Physiology of Pregnancy
13.02 / Prenatal Care
13.03 / Assessment of Fetal Well Being
13.04 / Complications of Pregnancy
13.05 / Postpartum
14.00 / PHARMACOLOGY
14.01 / Pharmacokinetics/dynamics
14.02 / Indications, Side Effects, Drug Interactions and Contraindications
and Patient Education
15.00 / PROFESSIONAL ISSUES
15.01 / Basic Research Principles
14.02 / Ethical and Legal Issues
Inpatient Obstetric Nursing Examination - Content Grid
10.00 / MATERNAL FACTORS AFFECTING THE NEWBORN10.01 / Disease Processes
10.02 / Pregnancy Risks
11.00 / FETAL ASSESSMENT
11.01 / Antepartum Assessment
11.02 / Electronic Fetal Monitoring
11.03 / Non-electronic Fetal Monitoring
11.04 / Acid Base Assessment
12.00 / LABOR & DELIVERY
12.01 / Physiology of Labor
12.02 / Labor Management
12.03 / Obstetrical Procedures
12.04 / Pain Management
13.00 / OBSTETRIC COMPLICATIONS
13.01 / Labor and Placental Disorders
13.02 / Preterm Labor
13.03 / Multiple Gestation
13.04 / Prolonged Pregnancy
14.00 / POSTPARTUM
14.01 / Physiology of the Postpartum Woman
14.02 / Family Adaptation
14.03 / Lactation
14.04 / Complications of the Postpartum Period
14.05 / Discharge Planning and Home Care
15.00 / NEWBORN
15.01 / Adaptation to Extrauterine Life
15.02 / Assessment
15.03 / Resuscitation
15.04 / Pathophysiology
15.05 / Infant Nutrition
16.00 / PROFESSIONAL ISSUES
16.01 / Ethical Principles and Legal Issues
16.03 / Research
Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing Examination - Content Grid
11.00 / GENERAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT11.01 / Maternal History and Risk Factors
11.02 / Gestational Age
11.03 / Physical Assessment
11.04 / Resuscitation and Stabilization
11.05 / Fluids and Electrolytes
11.06 / Nutrition and Feeding
11.07 / Oxygenation and Acid Base Homeostasis
11.08 / Thermoregulation
11.09 / Pharmacology
11.10 / Developmental Care
12.00 / ASSESS & MANAGE PATHOPHYSIOLOGIC STATES
12.01 / Cardiac
12.02 / Respiratory
12.03 / Gastrointestinal
12.04 / Genitourinary
12.05 / Hematopoietic
12.06 / Neurological/Neuromuscular
12.07 / Infectious Diseases
12.08 / Metabolic/Endocrine
12.09 / Genetics Disorders
12.10 / Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose and Throat
13.00 / ASSESS AND MANAGE PSYCHOSOCIAL BEHAVIORAL STATES
13.01 / Discharge Planning and Follow up
13.02 / Grieving Process
13.03 / Family Integration
14.00 / PROFESSIONAL ISSUES
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Examination Content Grid
11.00 / GENERAL ASSESSMENT11.01 / Perinatal (Antepartum and Intrapartum)
11.02 / Neonatal
11.02a / Physical Examination & Gestational Age/Behavioral Assessment
11.02b / Clinical Laboratory Tests
11.02c / Diagnostic Procedures, Techniques and Equipment
11.03 / Family Integration
11.03a / Family Integration and Communication
11.03b / Grieving Process
11.03c / Discharge Planning and Follow up
12.00 / GENERAL MANAGEMENT
12.01 / Thermoregulation
12.02 / Resuscitation and Stabilization
12.03 / Nutrition
12.04 / Fluid and Electrolytes
12.05 / Pharmacology
12.05a / Principles of Pharmacology
12.05b / Drug Therapies
13.00 / THE DISEASE PROCESS
13.01 / Cardiac
13.02 / Respiratory
13.03 / Gastrointestinal
13.04 / Renal/Genitourinary
13.05 / Metabolic/Endocrine
13.06 / Hematopoietic
13.07 / Infectious Diseases
13.08 / Musculoskeletal
13.09 / Integumentary
13.10 / Genetics
13.11 / Neurological
1312 / Ears, Eyes Nose and Throat
13.13 / Intrauterine Drug Exposure
14.00 / PROFESSIONAL ISSUES
Research and Legal/Ethical Issues
Low Risk Neonatal Nursing Examination - Content Grid
10.00 / MOTHER/FETUS10.01 / Assessment and Evaluation of Intrauterine Environment
10.02 / Maternal Factors and Complications Affecting the Fetus and Newborn
11.00 / NEWBORN
11.01 / General Physiologic Assessment
11.01a / Gestational Age
11.01b / Clinical Laboratory and Diagnostic Data
11.01c / Thermoregulation
11.01d / Behavioral/Developmental
11.02 / Physical Assessment and Management of Complications By System
11.02a1 / Cardiac
11.02a2 / Respiratory
11.02a3 / Gastrointestinal
11.02a4 / Integumentary
11.02a5 / Musculoskeletal
11.02a6 / Head, Ears, Eyes, Nose and Throat
11.02a7 / Hematopoietic
11.02a8 / Neurological
11.02a9 / Immune System
11.02a10 / Endocrine/Metabolic
11.02a11 / Genitourinary
11.02b / Genetic Disorders
11.02c / Hyperbilirubinemia
11.02d / Perinatal Substance Abuse
12.00 / GENERAL MANAGEMENT
12.01 / Resuscitation and Stabilization
12.02 / Neonatal Nutrition and Feeding
12.03 / Pharmacology
13.00 / FAMILY INTEGRATION
13.01 / Role Adaptation
13.02 / Discharge Planning and Home Care
14.00 / PROFESSIONAL ISSUES
14.01 / Research & Legal/Ethical Issues
Maternal Newborn Nursing Examination - Content Grid
10.00 / FACTORS AFFECTING MATERNAL/NEONATAL OUTCOMES10.01 / Antenatal Factors
10.02 / Intrapartum Factors
11.00 / MATERNAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT IN THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD
11.01 / Physiologic Changes and Physical Assessment (including
Laboratory values)
11.02 / Nursing Care and Education
11.03 / Lactation and Newborn Feeding
11.04 / Family Dynamics after Childbirth
11.05 / Complications
12.00 / NEWBORN ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT
12.01 / Transition to Extrauterine Life
12.02 / Physiologic Changes and Physical Assessment (including
Laboratory values)
12.03 / Nursing Care and Family Education
12.04 / Complications
13.00 / ASPECTS OF PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
13.01 / Research
13.02 / Guidelines for Practice
13.03 / Ethical/Legal Issues
Electronic Fetal Monitoring Subspecialty Examination
Content Grid
NCC uses NICHD terminology and questions should reflect this
preferred EFM language where appropriate.
10.00 / ELECTRONIC MONITORING EQUIPMENT10.01 / Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring
10.02 / Uterine Monitoring
10.03 / Equipment Failure/Troubleshooting
10.04 / Artifact Detection
10.05 / Patient Education
11.00 / PHYSIOLOGY
11.01 / Uteroplacental
11.02 / Uterine Activity
11.03 / Factors Affecting Fetal Oxygenation
12.00 / PATTERN RECOGNITION AND INTERVENTION
12.01 / Baseline Heart Rate
12.02 / Fetal Heart Rate Patterns
12.03 / Dysrhythmias and Other Variant Patterns
12.04 / Common Complications
13.00 / ADJUNCT FETAL SURVEILLANCE METHODS
13.01 / Auscultation
13.02 / Fetal movement Counting
13.03 / Nonstress Testing
13.04 / Contraction Stress Testing
13.05 / Fetal Acid Base Testing
13.06 / Biophysical Profile
13.07 / Fetal Acoustic Stimulation
14.00 / LEGAL ASPECTS OF ELECTRONIC FETAL MONITORING
14.01 / Documentation/charting
14.02 / Limitations of Use
14.03 / Chain of Command
Rationale Samples
Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner
Question
A 69 year old woman weighing 240 pounds reports a burning sensation in her feet especially at night and numbness and difficulty in walking. The nurse practitioner should refer her for
A. Doppler ultrasound
B. glucose screening
C. nerve conduction studies
Rationale
This patient's age, weight and symptoms are consistent with Type II diabetes. Her neuropathy is probably due to the fact that she has had undiagnosed diabetes for some time. While the other tests may have merit, the first evaluation should be glucose screening.
Question
A woman presents with a cold abscess type lesion of the skin with a necrotic center and obliteration of small vessels. She had been treated for syphilis several years ago but
never continued with follow up therapy. The nurse practitioner should recognize that the presenting symptom is consistent with
A. reinfection of primary syphilis
B. tertiary syphilis
C. treatment failure
Rationale
The manifestation that the patient presented with is consistent with tertiary syphilis. This can be a devastating disease affecting the central nervous system and musculoskeletal system. A gumma similar to a cold abscess with a necrotic center and obliteration of small vessels is a common symptom of tertiary syphilis. Other effects include optic atrophy, tabes dorsalis, generalized paresis and aortic aneurysm. This is not a sign of reinfection of primary syphilis because the patient never went through follow up. The treatment was probably incomplete to treat the earlier stages of the disease and disease progressed.
Inpatient Obstetric Nursing
Question
A woman in labor is having contractions about every two to three minutes. She is 7-8 cm dilated, 100% effaced, and at a +1 station. These findings are most consistent with what stage of labor?
A. First
B. Second
C. Third
Rationale
The woman described is in the first stage of labor which is defined as the onset of labor until full dilatation. Second stage is full dilatation until birth of the baby. The third stage of labor is from birth of the baby until expulsion of the placenta. Many people confuse the stages of labor with the phases that define the first stage of labor according to Freidman.
Question
Magnesium sulfate is thought to be useful as a tocolytic because it
A. enhances calcium transport across cell walls
B. facilitates calcium excretion
C. keeps calcium extracellular to the myometrial cell
Rationale
The mechanism of action of magnesium sulfate as a tocolytic is not clearly understood. Researchers believe that excess magnesium causes a decrease in the net calcium available to the myometrial cells, which in turn leads to an interference of muscle contractility. There is some indication that use of magnesium sulfate as a tocolytic is on the decline.
Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing
Question
The acid base derangement of respiratory alkalosis represents the presence of
A. hypoventilation
B. hyperventilation
C. hypoxemia
Rationale
When considering the acid base balance of a neonate, respiratory alkalosis represents the state of hyperventilation. Hypoventilation is reflected in respiratory acidosis. Hypoxemia occurs when there is ventilation/perfusion mismatch.
Question
A neonate is being weaned from an incubator to an open crib. The incubator temperature is set
at 5% less than the average temperature of the last five days. After an hour, the neonate's
temperature is 35.4oC (95.7oF). At this point, the incubator temperature should be
A. decreased by 0.5oC
B. increased by 0.5oC
C. maintained at the current level
Rationale
The weaning process from incubator to open crib is a gradual one. Based on information in this question, the neonate appears not to be tolerating the decrease in temperature because the optimal abdominal skin temperature of 36-37oC is not being maintained. The incubator temperature should be increased by 0.5 degrees. Ongoing monitoring should continue.