Tag: NBCRNA

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Airway Anesthesia Education Anesthesia Equipment and Technology Human Physiology and Pathophysiology Pharmacology Preparing for Grad School/Residency

#115 – The NBCRNA MAC Program: How CRNAs Recertify

Hey y’all! First of all: thank you to those of you who have subscribed to the website and get these posts right to your email inbox. That’s all that happens: the podcast is free and subscription to the show just means you get the content straight to you as soon as it’s live. I never sell or use your contact info for any other means. I’m just simply thrilled to have your support and interest in the show as the whole thing is geared to support you and help you thrive in your career as an anesthesia provider. Thank you!

This podcast covers a run down on the NBCRNA’s Maintaining Anesthesia Certification (MAC) Program. The MAC Program is how CRNAs maintain and rectify their license with the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA).

The MAC Program launched in 2024 as a revamped version of the old CPC (Continued Professional Certification) Program. There are some substantial changes that CRNAs should be aware of. First off, you need to know if you’re in the MAC Program yet. Most CRNAs (new grads and those who’ve re-licensed after 2024) ARE in the new MAC Program.

This show will coach you on how you can log into NBCRNA’s website to see where you’re at and what you need to know about MAC Ed (Class A) & MAC Dev (Class B) credits and the quarterly MAC Check exam questions that you can take on an app on your phone.

All the details are in the show! For the truth of what’s up with the MAC Program and your license, as always, check with NBCRNA! Things change over time. Be sure NBCRNA has an updated email for you. 30% of the emails they send to CRNAs bounce back as invalid addresses. That’s insane! Updatechur email!

You can follow along with the podcast by checking out the attached PDF that outlines the show with lots of helpful graphs and more info than what I spoke about in the podcast.

Two last points:

First: Overall, I think the MAC Program is a really healthy and needed evolution to the CPC Program. NBCRNA has listened to CRNAs and made needed adjustments to the continuing education/relicensure program. We have to have a continuing education/certification program for the CRNA license to have meaning and value. The current iteration is the best it’s been, so there’s that.

Second: Remember that your STATE Board of Nursing may require additional steps for you to re-license as a CRNA. For instance, NBCRNA does NOT require pharmacology-specific continuing education credits (MAC-Ed/Class A); however, the State of Maine (where I’m at) does!

For example, Maine CRNAs must obtain 60 MAC-Ed/Class A and 40 MAC-Dev/Class B credits for recertification with NBCRNA every 4 years but we have to have 50 credits every 2 years, 15 of which (every 2 years) must be pharmacology credits, to re-license as CRNA in the State of Maine. So the requirements to re-license as a CRNA in the State of Maine are slightly more stringent (and more frequent) than to maintain the national license with NBCRNA.

Follow along with the powerpoint for more details:

MAC Program Overview – Anesthesia GuidebookDownload

Go get you some deliberate practice!

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Anesthesia Education Clinical Tips Preparing for Grad School/Residency

#76 – Thrive in Training: the SEE & NCE exams

This episode covers the NBCRNA’s SEE & NCE exams for SRNAs/RRNAs. Get these on lock down. Thrive in training.

The Self-Evaluation Exam (SEE) is a 240-question computerized adaptive exam that’s designed for three reasons:

  1. help the SRNA gauge their progress in their training program
  2. help program faculty gauge how well they’re preparing students
  3. help SRNAs prepare for the NCE board exam

NBCRNA’s website for the SEE is here: SEE Resources.

The National Certification Exam (NCE) is the board exam required to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).

The NCE is a 100-170 question computerized adaptive exam that includes 30 random, non-graded questions. All examinees will take at least 100 questions. The exam shuts off between 100 – 170 questions once a minimum passing (or failing) standard is met. The cost of NCE is $995 and is available only to graduates of accredited nurse anesthesiology training programs.

NBCRNA’s website for the NCE is here: NCE Resources.

The NBCRNA also provides an exam tutorial for the SEE/NCE, which is an extremely valuable resources: SEE/NCE Exam Tutorial.

In this podcast, I break down the SEE & NCE in detail and share advice for how to approach both exams. I also go in-depth on preparation for the NCE in episode 14 of Anesthesia Guidebook with expert-exam coach, LTC Peter Strube, DNP, CRNA. Dr Strube has coached nurse anesthesia trainees in passing boards both ahead of their initial try at boards and, most often, after they’ve failed. His insights are invaluable for preparing for boards so I’d definitely recommend checking out that episode.

I will also hit on the NCE in an upcoming show about wrapping up training and preparing for the transition to practice.

You can watch the trailer for SOMM here.

As always, drop me an email, IG/Facebook message or comment here on the website with your questions or comments.

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Categories
Anesthesia Education Business/Finances

#65 – 1-hour CPC Program Overview

This is an all-new 1-hour overview of the NBCRNA’s Continued Professional Certification (CPC) Program for CRNAs.

In April of 2019, I interviewed John Preston, DNSc, CRNA, FNAP, APRN and Lisa Kamen, CAE of the NBCRNA on the CPC Program for the podcast From the Head of the Bed. At the time, Dr Preston was the Chief Credentialing Officer at NBCRNA; he is now the CEO of NBCRNA. Lisa Kamen is an association manager who supports the work of NBCRNA as a full time staff member. Instead of brining that episode forward to Anesthesia Guidebook, I’ve decided to complete re-write this update because the CPC Program has evolved even since 2019.

Episode 64 of Anesthesia Guidebook includes a brief 10-minute run down on the CPC Program that you can share with friends who just want a quick overview. I recorded the 1-hour run down first and then realized that there’s probably some CRNAs out there who just want a quick overview, so I hammered episode 64 int0 just over 10-minutes.

The CPC Program at a glance.

Check your progress in the CPC Program here: NCBRNA Website

More on the CPC Program:

NBCRNA CPC Program

CPC Program Overview: Lowrance 1-hour presentation PDFDownload

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Categories
Anesthesia Education Business/Finances

#64 – 10-minute CPC Program Overview

This is a short overview of the NBCRNA’s Continued Professional Certification (CPC) Program for CRNAs.

In April of 2019, I interviewed John Preston, DNSc, CRNA, FNAP, APRN and Lisa Kamen, CAE of the NBCRNA on the CPC Program for the podcast From the Head of the Bed. At the time, Dr Preston was the Chief Credentialing Officer at NBCRNA; he is now the CEO of NBCRNA. Lisa Kamen is an association manager who supports the work of NBCRNA as a full time staff member. Instead of brining that episode forward to Anesthesia Guidebook, I’ve decided to complete re-write this update because the CPC Program has evolved even since 2019.

Episode 65 of Anesthesia Guidebook includes an all-new 1-hour run down on the CPC Program. I actually recorded that show first and then realized that there’s probably some CRNAs out there who just want a quick overview, so I’ve hammered this episode out in just over 10-minutes. I covered the basics of the CPC Program but if you want to know more details, some back story on the program and more tips on crushing the CPC Assessment (exam), be sure to check out the next podcast!

The CPC Program at a glance.

Check your progress in the CPC Program here: NCBRNA Website

More on the CPC Program:

NBCRNA CPC Program

CPC Program Overview: Lowrance 1-hour presentation PDFDownload

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Categories
Anesthesia Education

#9 – How to Earn Class B Credits with Podcasts

The NBCRNA CPC Program allows for CRNAs to earn Class B Credits by listening to podcasts; this episode tells you how.

The National Board of Certification & Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) recognizes anesthesia-related podcasts, like Anesthesia Guidebook, as valid sources of Class B credit in their Continued Professional Certification (CPC) Program that all CRNAs participate in. Class B credits are designed to encourage professional development and CRNAs must obtain 40 hours of Class B credit every 4-year cycle of the CPC Program. If you follow Anesthesia Guidebook, you’ll easily get 10 hours of content each year and all you have to do is claim your credit – FOR FREE – with NBCRNA! The podcast tells you how and the PDFs below show you how. Earning Class B credit has never been easier!

How to Report Class B Credits from Podcasts.PDF

Download
NBCRNA Class B Reporting FORM
Download

NBCRNA Class B Credits Website:

https://www.nbcrna.com/continued-certification/class-b-credits

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