Planning Committees
Q. Can an RN who has a bachelor’s degree in social work serve as the “Nurse Planner” for NCPD activities in our organization?
A. Registered nurses with a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing may serve as the “Nurse Planner” who is actively involved in all aspects of planning, implementation, and evaluation of each CNE activity (ANCC, 2015). At least one of the RNs on the planning committee for an educational activity must have a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing and be designated as the Nurse Planner. The designated Nurse Planner must have experience and expertise in all aspects of ANCC/Midwest MSD criteria. This requirement means that the RN must have a baccalaureate degree in nursing (typically a BSN), master’s degree in nursing (may be an MS, MSN, or MA with a major in nursing), or a doctorate in nursing (typically a Ph.D. or Doctorate in Nursing Science).
An RN who has an associate degree in nursing or is a graduate of a diploma school of nursing and does not have a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing would not qualify as the designated ‘Primary Nurse Planner’ for an Approved Provider Unit or as the ‘Nurse Planner’ for an Individual Education Activity application, but could serve as a member of the planning committee.
Q. There is a requirement for the Nurse Planner to “have education or experience in the field of education or adult learning.” What kind of experience do you mean?
A. Examples of experience include, but are not limited to, engagement on several NCPD planning committees in the past, academic education focused on education (Masters in Education, for example), participation in an educational activity or training session for Nurse Planners, and/or experience teaching nurses in a higher education.
Q. What is the role of a planning committee member?
A. The planning committee is an integral part of the educational design process. They may be convened to address a specific professional practice gap or they might be the ones identifying the gap. They also play critical roles in collecting evidence in support of a gap and ways of addressing the gap, determining desired outcomes for an activity, ensuring that content is presented with integrity, supporting the effective implementation of the activity, and evaluating activity outcomes. Planning committee members may also serve in other capacities for the educational event such as assisting with marketing, registration, presenter correspondence, etc.
Q. What is the difference between a Content Expert and a Content Reviewer?
A. Every planning committee is required to have at least one Content Expert who has documented qualifications demonstrating education, experience and/or expertise in the subject matter of the educational event. They are an active member of the planning committee assisting with the needs assessment and identification of the professional practice gap.
A Content Reviewer is not required for an educational event, but may be very beneficial. They serve to analyze the subject matter provided to identify disparities, duplication, or inappropriate material. They can be utilized to ensure that specific information is covered to meet regulatory requirements. They can also be utilized to evaluate presentations to guarantee that no bias or promotion occurs.