Montana Nurses Association

20 Old Montana State Highway ~ Clancy, MT 59634

406-442-6710 Voice ~ 406-442-1841 Fax

July 2009

Dear Continuing Education Provider:

Thank you for your interest in approval for contact hours for CE activities for nurses. Approval of an educational activity ensures participants that the activity/program meets professional standards for continuing nursing education. Prior to planning, implementing, and evaluating a learning activity, or if you are deciding whether to pursue Approved Provider status, you can contact the MNA Continuing Education Director to help you.

Enclosed you will find:

  • Montana Nurses Association (MNA) Individual Activities Continuing Education Manual.
  • Faculty-Directed Individual Activity Application form
  • Other Sample forms
  • Reference materials

The Montana Nurses Association endorses the concept of planned continuing education as a means by which nurses can remain current in their knowledge, advance the profession of nursing, and meet standards of nursing practice. One way to assure that all key elements of quality programming are incorporated in your continuing education activity is with the MNA CE process. As the RN planner and/or person administratively responsible, you have the opportunity to assure the continued success of these standards by advocating and promoting quality continuing education programs for nurses.

Criteria mandated by the AmericanNursesCredentialingCenter’s (ANCC) Commission on Accreditation and specific requirements of the MNA CE program are incorporated in the manual. Step-by-step directions and samples of certificates, evaluation and other forms make the application process easy. Please contact MNA with any questions that you may have. Thank you for selecting MNA as your CE Approver. We look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Barb Swehla, MN RN

MNA Continuing Education Director


2009 Continuing Nursing Education Manual

for

Contact Hour Approval of

Individual Educational Activities

Mailing Address:

Montana Nurses Association

20 Old Montana State Highway

ClancyMT59634

Offices & EducationCenter:

20 Old Montana State Highway

Montana City, MT

[Exit 187 on I-15 South]

Continuing Education Department

Barb Swehla, MN RN

CE Director

406/442-6710 voice

406/442-1841 fax

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Dear Continuing Education CE Credit Applicant

How to Use This Manual...... 3

Approval Process and Timelines...... 4

Eligibility...... 4

To Proceed...... 4

Types of Action Possible on the Review...... 5

Individual Activity Application Fees...... 6

Adhering To Criteria/Rules...... 7

Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) Credit...... 7

Approval Language...... 7

Handouts/Teaching Materials...... 7

Refresher Courses...... 7

Awarding Contact Hours to Faculty...... 8

Adult Education Principles...... 8

Courses Addressing Complementary or Alternative(Therapeutic) Modalities...... 8

Completing the Faculty-Directed / Individual Activity Application...... 9

Applicant / Provider Information...... 9

Individual Activity Information...... 9

How This Activity Was Planned, Advertised & Evaluated...... 9

After the Workshop – Required Follow-up for Your Files and MNA...... 13

Frequently Asked Questions...... 14

FORMS

Individual Activity Documentation Form...... 17

Biographical Data Form (2009) ...... 27

Co-Provider Agreement ...... 28

Certificate of Participation...... 29

Attendance / Sign-In From...... 30

Evaluation Form...... 31

Sample Flyer...... 32

Terms & Conditions for Speakers / Authors...... 34

Commercial Support Agreement...... 35

Sponsor Agreement...... 35

Quality Improvement Form...... 37

APPENDICES

A Is It Continuing Education? Guidelines for Differentiating Levels of Education...... 38

B Co-Providershipat a Glance...... 39

C Conflict of Interest (an appendix from the 2009 ANCC Application Manual)...... 39

COI Decision Tree...... 41

D Commercial Support/Sponsorship Decision Tree...... 42

E Reconsideration and Appeal Process (MNA Policy) ...... 43

F How to Write Objectives (MNA Policy) ...... 45

Bloom’s Taxonomy...... 47

Verbs to Use and Verbs to Avoid...... 47

G Glossary ...... 49

H Principles of Adult Learning Theory...... 55

How to Use This Manual

This manual was prepared in accordance with the newly revised AmericanNursesCredentialingCenter’s Commission on Accreditation criteria (frequently referred to as ANCC 2009 criteria). Criteria affecting individual activities that were changed or added are incorporated into the forms you will need to request review and approval for contact hours.

Become acquainted with the information in the manual and use it as reference. Download or print the entire manual if you wish, and copy the forms as you need to for each educational activity you submit to for approval. The forms in this manual are the forms that MNA will accept for continuing nursing education activity approval. Use ONLY the new forms in the manual for all individual activity applications. Email or call MNA at any time with questions or concerns.

APPROVAL PROCESS and TIMELINES

A faculty-directed or presenter-directed CE activity involves participant attendance. The provider who plans and schedules the activity determines the pace of the activity. Contact hour credit awarded is based on the educational or clinical time allocated for the activity, plus time for evaluation of the activity.

Examples of faculty directed CE activities include but are not limited to conventions, courses, seminars, workshops, lecture series, and distance learning activities such as teleconferences and audio conferences. Knowledge and use of adult learning principles should be reflected in all aspects of the educational design, i.e. objectives, content, teaching methods, etc.

ELIGIBILITY:

MNA reviews application for continuing nursing education based on the following broad eligibility requirements:

  • The activity must relate to the nursing profession and meet the definition of “continuing education.”
  • The activity’s objectives must be attainable given the scope of the subject and time frame specified.
  • The faculty must have credentials relevant to the topic presented.

TO PROCEED:

1. Complete the application in its entirety using the forms in this manual.

  • All sections must be compatible with Microsoft Word.
  • All required sections of the applicationmust be submitted at the same time. Ifany sections are missing, the application will not be processed until the required sections are completed.
  • Applications may be sent via email (preferred) to or by US Mail to the mailing address on the cover of the manual.

REGULAR MAIL: Two typed, complete, collated copies of the application (including all attachments) using the forms,format andcriteria described in this manual and accompanied by the required application fee must arrive at MNA at least 45 days prior tothe date of the activity.

EMAIL: Email submissions are preferred, as this expedites the review process. Email submissions must be on current forms and in the format described in this manual. [At this time, MNA does NOT charge an extra fee for email submissions. Some states do!] If your application will exceed 25 pages, please check with MNA regarding email vs. regular mail submission. The application fee should arrive at the time of the email submission, with its purpose clearly stated on the check or in accompanying documentation.

  • For most applications, biographical forms for planners and presenters should be submitted as one email document, not individually.

HOWEVER…..

  • For large conferences with multiple speakers and/or multiple sessions, it is important toorganize the application to facilitate review. It is suggested that the speakers’ Biographical Data forms and Conflict of Interest Disclosure forms accompany the Individual Activity Documentation form for the session in which they present.

2. After the application package and fee arrive at MNA headquarters, the review process begins. MNA may return applications not submitted in the proper format without review.No review will commence until the review fee has been received by MNA.

  • MNA staff will do a preliminary review to determine if all of the criteria have been addressed.
  • An email letter (unless email not available) is sent to the applicant:
  • Indicating that the application has been received;
  • Assigning an MNA tracking number;
  • Noting either that the application appears complete or listing the information that isstill needed.
  • If the corrective action needed is major, the application will be held atMNA until the necessary data arrives.

If the application appears complete or only minor pieces are missing, the application will be sent to peer reviewers for an in depth review of the application, comparing it to the criteria outlined in this manual. Each reviewer does an independent review.

When sending additional information, ALWAYS include the MNA number assigned to the application. The MNA number is VERY important to efficient tracking and follow up. Any required follow-up information can be submitted via email. If the additional information is satisfactory and arrives at MNA before the presentation date, the “approval deferred or pending” status will be changed to "approved".

TYPES OF ACTION POSSIBLE ON THE REVIEW ARE:

  • Approved – for a two-year period. If the final action is “approved,” the contact hours approved will be stated and any comments or recommendations of the reviewers will be shared. A faculty directed CE activity may be repeated as often as desired during the two-year period of approval unless substantial changes are made.
  • Approval deferred or pending -- Accompanied byalist of additional requirements to make the application acceptable. The applicant will be asked to add to orclarify information in response to the reviewers’ request.
  • Not approved -- If the final action is “not approved,” rationale will be given and future options enumerated.

3. An email letter is sent to the applicant indicating the final action on the application. The MNA application number must always be used in any correspondence or phone calls concerning the activity and MUST be on the certificates given to participants.

4. If an application is not approved, the applicant may revise the application and re-submit it for approval prior to the event.

5. An appeal process is available to any applicant who does not agree with the decision of the CE Approver Council. Contact the CE Department for a copy of the appeal policy. Satisfactory appeal must be completed prior to the event or presentation of the activity.

6. One copy of the entire application, the review forms and all correspondence to or from the applicant will be kept at MNA headquarters for six years. Only authorized personnel and Council members have access to the files.

7. As applicants proceed through the application process, they are encouraged to ask questions and seek help as needed. MNA staff can provide phone assistance or more extensive consultation can be arranged.

The purpose of MNA’s Continuing Education Program is to promote quality continuing education. Helping providers meet the standards and criteria for the state approval and national accreditation systems is one of our goals.

INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY APPLICATION FEES

This fee schedule was effective February 14, 2011, and is subject to change. Fees are to be submitted with the application and are not refundable once the review process has begun. MNA reserves the right to change fees at any time without notice. Fees may be paid by check or credit card (MasterCard, VISA, American Express, Discover). If requested, MNA will invoice you for the amount due.

MNA approval of individual activities is granted for a period of two years. The approved activity may be repeated any number of times during that two-year approval period. If objectives, faculty, content, or program design are changed, MNA must receive updated biographical data forms and/or activity documentation changes at least 30 working days prior to the start of the event.

There is no fee for review of program updates during the 2-year approval period

as long as the updates are provided at least 30 working days prior to the start of the event.

Late/rush fees apply if the updates are submitted

less than 30 working days from the start of an event.

All applications must be submitted electronically

at least 30 working days prior to the start of the event.

The date of the application begins when the application is complete

(all required documents have been submitted).

Number of Speakers / Review Fee for
2-year Approval
Applications with MNA members verified as actively serving as Lead Nurse Planner receive 30% discount on the regular review fee / Late Fee
Less than 30 working days prior to the start date of the activity / Rush Fee
(in addition to the late fee)
Less than 10 working days prior to the start date of the activity
1 – 4 / $100 / Add $50 / Add $100
5-8 / $200 / Add $50 / Add $100
9-12 / $250 / Add $100 / Add $150
13 or more / $300 / Add $100 / Add $150

Applications under a late/rush fee will be processed

at the discretion of the MNA CE staff.

ADHERING TO CRITERIA / RULES

CNE Credit

The appropriate measure of continuing nursing education credit is the 60-minute contact hour. A contact hour is 60 minutes of an organized learning activity that is either a didactic (educational) or clinical experience or independent study.Evaluation is considered part of the learning activity.

The minimum number of contact hours that can be awarded is 0.5 (30 minutes). Contact hours may be calculated to the hundredths (i.e. 0.71, 1.56, etc.), however they may not be rounded up. The examples above could be stated as .7 CH or .71 CH or 1.5 CH, not 1.6 (rounding up).

Contact hours must be determined in a logical defensible manner, consistent with the objectives, content, teaching/learning strategies and target audience. Welcome, introductions, breaks and viewing of exhibits are not included in the calculation of contact hours.

No CEUs!

Neither the ANCC Commission on Accreditation or the Montana Nurses Association has authorized use of the Continuing Education Unit (CEU) system. This means approved contact hours, NOTCEUs, will be applied for and awarded. At no time is it permissible to use the term “CEU” or to use any other discipline’s credit within the same sentence as the nursing credit.

Approval Language

Applicants of Faculty Directed and Independent Study activities must use the appropriate ANCC Commission on Accreditation and MNA terminology related to approval status in allcommunications and on all written materials related to the educational activities.The approval statement stands alone. That is, it must begin and end on a line separate from other text.

  • Prior to approval:

This activity has been submitted for approval by the Montana Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the AmericanNursesCredentialingCenter’s Commission on Accreditation.

  • Once approved:

This continuing nursing education activity was approved by the Montana Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the AmericanNursesCredentialingCenter’s Commission on Accreditation.

Handouts/Teaching Materials

Please do not submit handouts or teaching materials that will be given to participants with the applications sent to MNA. If handouts are to be used, they should be listed under teaching methods. You may want to retain one copy of handouts to file with your original submission.

Refresher Courses

According to the ANCC Commission on Accreditation, refresher courses may focus on functioning in a particular facility or on reinforcing basic knowledge. In those situations, the content areas would not be eligible for contact hours.

However, in some cases, refresher courses provide nurses re-entering the employment field following an absence of several years with new information or a new skill set that has developed in the previous few years.

In the second description of a refresher course – one providing new information or a new skill set that has been developed in the few years prior to the nurse re-entering employment, the content area would be eligible for contact hours. ANCC accreditation criteria specify that contact hours be calculated only for that portion of the learning activity that is devoted to transmitting new or transferable knowledge. This includes the time spent completing the evaluation of the educational activity.

Awarding Contact Hours to Faculty

In activities with multiple topics and presenters, faculty may be awarded contact hours for the parts of the program presented by others and in which they participate as learners. Montana does not authorize a faculty person who presents an activity for the first time to receive contact hours for that presentation.

Adult Education Principles

There is no “best” method of teaching. Adults bring a rich variety of experiences to the learning situation. These experiences must be taken into consideration when planning an activity and deciding on the teaching strategy(ies)/method(s) needed to support the objectives of the activity, the content, the target audience, and the skill of the presenter. Evidence of each strategy selected in this section must be supported in the “teaching methods” column of the activity documentation form. See “Adult Learning” in the CE references.

Courses Addressing Complementary or Alternative (Therapeutic) Modalities

The American Holistic Nurses Association developed the following requirements regarding therapeutic modalities (complementary or alternative modalities) (2005). The MNA CE Approver unit (CCE) recommends that CNE providers follow these guidelines.

1. Therapeutic modality is clearly supported by theory or research published in professional literature in the last five years if there is research available. The research must be made available to the nurse planner / planning committee upon request. This would be required if the modality is in question by staff, nurse planners, reviewers or CCE members.
2. The learning activity clearly discriminates between use of the modality for self-care or personal development as opposed to appropriate use of the modality with a client population.
3. The learning activity defines and assures a recognized minimum of training when modalities taught are intended for professional use with a client population. / 4. The learning activity is consistent with the standards of the appropriate professional association related to the topic. For example, the AHNA has the Holistic Nurses Association Standards of Holistic Nursing Practice that address holistic nursing. (Please check their website
5. Presenter has the appropriate credentials and experience to deliver the learning activity.
6. Note: The approval of contact hours by MNA is based on an assessment of the educational design criteria for the learning activity and does not constitute endorsement of the use of a specific modality in the care of clients. (Some organizations choose to include this statement on advertising or the handouts.)

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