NCJ Number
220914
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 69 Issue: 5 Dated: October 2007 Pages: 66,67,69
Date Published
October 2007
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes the nature and procedure of the American Correctional Association's (ACA's) certification for correctional health care workers.
Abstract
In 2007, the ACA introduced its first correctional health care certification designations: Certified Corrections Nurse (CCN) and Certified Corrections Nurse Manager (CCN/M). At ACA's Winter Conference in January 2007, 11 candidates earned the CCN/M designation. The correctional health care certification program is designed to advance the professional competence and recognition of practitioners in the corrections field, so as to promote current and innovative approaches in correctional health care. The extensive skills and knowledge required to earn certification gives certified health care workers a respected status in their field. Prior to certification, applicants must qualify on the basis of their experience and achievements in the field of corrections and nursing. The candidates must then complete a comprehensive examination that tests their nursing knowledge in the correctional setting. Nurses who contact the ACA about becoming certified receive an information packet that contains the application form for the Health Care Professionals Certification Program. This packet takes nurses step-by-step through the application process. The ACA then determines each applicant's qualifications based on the submitted application. The application packet provides guidelines on how to prepare for the examination. This article describes the RAAF approach (Read, Analyze, Apply, Formulate). Mastery of the study materials for the CCN and CCN/M exams should ensure success on the exam. The titles of the study materials and how they may be obtained are included in this article. Administrative leaders at all correctional facilities should encourage their professional medical staff to pursue certification, so as to confirm the professionalism of the health care workers and the organization for which they work.