President's Message

Our world has changed dramatically since our last e-newsletter, and I would like to thank all of you for the work you are doing for your patients during this pandemic.

We know that your work schedules may be in flux, you may have children home from school, and you may have family members requiring care. As I hope you have seen in our recent emails, we are committed to assisting WOCNCB certified nurses with certification expiration dates and exam testing deadlines coming up in the next few months.

With restrictions on business operations and gatherings of more than a few people in a growing number of states, many test centers are temporarily closed. A current list of test sites that are closed is available on Scantron’s website.

You will find details in this newsletter about what you should do depending on your recertification status. Because we do not know how long restrictions will be in place, we are continuously monitoring the situation and will be extending expiration dates and deadlines as necessary.

Our volunteers are still working on writing exam questions, creating exam prep content, and our Board of Directors held their first virtual Board meeting last weekend. I thank them all for their continued commitment to the WOCNCB.

If you have any questions about your certification, please contact us. Due to a stay at home order in the State of Wisconsin, our staff is working remotely to assist you during regular office hours. The best way to reach us is by emailing info@wocncb.org. You may also call us at 1-888-496-2622 and leave a message. A staff member will be in touch with you as soon as possible.

Thank you,

Michael Kingan, DNP, AGPNP-BC, CWOCN
WOCNCB® President

COVID-19 Extensions and Deadlines

Exam Extensions

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been working closely with Scantron, our testing company, to accommodate certified nurses who are unable to take exams due to test site closures or are unable to meet recertification deadlines for other reasons. Here is a summary of what we have done to date.

All certificants with a certification expiration date of March 17, 2020, through July 31, 2020, will have their expiration date automatically extended to August 31, 2020. This is being updated in both our database and Scantron’s system. If you had a test scheduled, and the testing site is closed, you will not be charged a fee to reschedule.

All applicants with a testing window that ends between March 17, 2020, and July 31, 2020, will have their testing window automatically extended to August 31, 2020.

At this time, we do not know how long testing sites may be closed. We are continuing to monitor the situation, and we will extend these dates again if necessary. Information will be updated on our website (www.wocncb.org), and we will send emails to keep you up to date.

PGP Portfolio Submission Extensions

All certificants with active PGP portfolios and a certification expiration date in June, July, and August 2020 have had their expiration date extended for an additional 90 days. These dates have already been updated in your PGP portfolio.

PGP portfolios are due 3 months prior to your new expiration date as follows:

• June expiration date is extended to Sept. 30,2020 (new PGP deadline 6/30/20)
• July expiration date is extended to Oct. 31,2020 (new PGP deadline 7/31/20)
• August expiration date is extended to Nov. 30,2020 (new PGP deadline 8/31/20)

If you intend to recertify by PGP within the next four months but have not started a portfolio, please email us at info@wocncb.org. We will reset your submission deadline.

FAQs

Here are answers to the most common questions we have been getting:

Q: Can I apply for exams when test sites are closed due to COVID-19?
A: Yes, you are still able to apply and submit online exam application(s). Once your exam application is accepted and approved, you have a 12-month window to take the exam.

Q: My credentials will expire while my nearest testing site is closed. Will I receive an extension?
A: Yes, WOCNCB has automatically provided an extension of credentials for those with expiration dates in March through July 2020. You may now plan to test through August 31, 2020. WOCNCB will continue to monitor the situation so that credentials will not lapse.

Q: I had a retake exam scheduled but the test site closed. When will I be able to test?
A: We cannot predict when individual testing sites will reopen, but WOCNCB has automatically provided an extension of your testing eligibility window for those with applications that were valid from March through July 2020. You may now plan to test through August 2020. WOCNCB will continue to monitor the situation so that applications remain valid.

Q: Because the testing site is closed, I have to reschedule my exam. Will I be charged a rescheduling fee?
A: Our testing agency will be allowing rescheduling without penalty, and the rescheduling fee will be waived due to test site closures. Scantron’s customer service can be reached at 919-572-6880.

Q: My credentials don’t expire until December 2020. Are my credentials extended due to COVID-19?
A: If your recertification date is after July 2020, your credentials are not affected at this time. We will continually monitor credentialing needs as we move forward during this unprecedented situation, so that credentials do not lapse.

Q: I applied for the 6 month grace period, but the test sites are closed beyond this date. Will you extend my grace period?
A: Please email us at: info@wocncb.org. We will be able to provide a 90-day extension to your grace period. WOCNCB will continue to monitor the situation so that your application remains valid.

Q: Are you offering online exams versus in-person exams, due to COVID-19 testing site closures?
A: WOCNCB exams are not currently offered via remote testing. We are exploring whether we can offer online exams in compliance with our accreditation. We will announce via email if this changes in the future.

Q: My current work requirements have me too stressed and/or with too little time to prepare to take an exam. My certification expires on August 31, 2020. What can I do?
A: If testing sites are still closed into July 2020, we will be extending expiration dates again. If you are unable to prepare to take an exam beyond the date of any extensions, you can apply for a credential extension. Email info@wocncb.org for assistance in filing for an extension.

What's New?

Congratulations to these WOCNCB^® Certified for hitting the 30-Year Continuous Certification Mark in 2020!

They join the ranks of individuals who hit the mark previously. To view the list of previously WOCNCB^® 30-year continuous certifications since 2013 click here.

New Inactive or Retired/Emeritus Status

Inactive Status:
Have you had a "life happens" situation that prevented you from fulfilling the requirements for recertification and you may wish to return to certified status within three (3) years. Certificants unable to meet the requirements for recertification may apply for Inactive Status. Nurses taking Inactive Status will not be certified while under this status and the certification designation (i.e. CWON®) cannot be used after the nurse’s name (i.e. on a clinical practice sign off, resume, etc.). The inactive period cannot be extended beyond a single three year period. Inactive application information is on our website Inactive Status.

Retired/Emeritus Status:
Certified nurses who have retired during their active certification and wish to remain connected to other WOCNCB® certified nurses may apply for Retired/Emeritus Status. A Retired/Emeritus nurse may use their credential with Emeritus Status on a resume or below their name on a business card (i.e. CWOCN®, Emeritus), but they may NOT use their credential after their signature. Nurses may continue to use their credential as stated above indefinitely, but after five years they will be unable to return to active status without applying as a new applicant. Retired/Emeritus application information is on our website Retired/Emeritus Status.

Applications must be submitted at least 30 days prior to certification expiration for all active certifications that the nurse currently holds. Applications can be submitted by email, fax or mail.

Time for first WTA-C^®s to become recertified!

The first WTA-C® exams were launched in 2015. To recertify you must take the certification exam again and you may apply online up to 18 months prior to credentials expiration. Visit the exam prep section of our website for the exam content outline and additional resources.

Helping Hands

WOC Nurse Week is April 12-18, 2020

Thank you to all our certified nurses for all you are doing each and every day. We appreciate your dedication to patient care, as leaders in your specialty and in all roles you are asked to fill during this COVID-19 pandemic. As a WOCNCB Certified nurse, share your experience and how you are responding during this crisis. Download signs to promote being WOCNCB Certified and share your photos and stories via social media #wocncb #nurses #prevention #certification We hope this will brighten your day in the face of the adversity you are facing and let you know how appreciated you are for the work you do.

The WOCN® Society is celebrating the impact WOC nurses make in the communities they serve around the world! Visit https://www.wocn.org/page/wocnurseweek2020 for resources to help you make the most out of your celebrations this year!

THANK YOU AND STAY SAFE

Your health and well-being is critical at this time, please practice with all the necessary precautions to keep yourself safe while you are caring for others. Pictured Above: Jessica Simmons APRN, CWON, Michelle Fuller APRN and Cathy Rogers DNP, APRN, CWCN.

FOR ALL OUR NURSES ON THE FRONT LINES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!

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