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How Are You Growing?
by Michael A. Bower,
ACC
Secretary, NCCAP
As a
committee member and an NCCAP Board
Member, I have been reviewing
applications for initial certification,
certification renewals, and certification
level changes. This always involves
evaluating scores of continuing education
certificates. I would like to step back
from the obvious problems of certificates
missing required information and talk
about the subject of “continuing
education.”
The
important word in that phrase is
“education.” NCCAP supplies
each of its members with a list of
continuing education subjects — it's
called “The NCCAP Body of
Knowledge.” I often receive
certificates and college transcripts for
subjects that are not within that Body of
Knowledge. Although “Administration
of IV Drugs” is a valuable course
for a nurse, it has no value for Activity
Professionals. Giving IV medications is
not in our Scope of Practice. When
rejecting such a course, I often hear the
response, “But it's a college
course!” 20% of the clock hours can
come from health courses such as CPR,
First Aid and Medications, but a person
submitting one 3-credit quarter course
for all 30 of their clock hours are going
to be disappointed — only 6 can be
accepted (4 if you need 20 clock hours
and 8 if you need 40 clock hours). The
same 20% can be accepted for personal
enrichment subjects, such as voice
lessons or religious classes.
If a class
appears to be for personal enrichment,
but is really needed to help you serve
the residents better, include a note
explaining how it assists you. For
example, if I take a class to learn the
Cherokee language and culture, it would
be for my personal enrichment, as I live
in the Pacific Northwest. However, if I
study the Yakima language and culture
because the majority of my residents are
from the Yakima tribe, then all the
credits could be counted.
When
considering taking a course, the question
to ask yourself is, “How will this
class help me improve the lives of my
residents by helping me to better serve
them?” That is the purpose of
requiring Continuing Education – to
keep us current in our own profession and
to improve the quality of the services we
provide for our residents. So, how are
you growing? NN
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