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Frequently Asked Questions About...
 The Payment Process Taking an Independent Study Module (ISM) OnlineScoring, Grading and Receiving Contact Hours
The Content Topic AreasContact UsGlossary-Definitions of Key TermsRefund Policy
The Payment Process
Q. When do I pay for my CE ISMs/courses?
A. You may purchase your ISM/course before you begin the first course you selected, or after you've read the article for that ISM/course and are ready to take the test. You will then fill out a registration form, including payment information. Once your registration is submitted, you can take the test for that CE ISM/course. When you return to take more online CE modules, you will only need to supply your credit card information and Social Security number again. To ensure security, we do not save this information.
Q. Is the web site secure? What is SSL?
A. ANA and this CE site employ VeriSign Secure Server ID to establish secure communications between our web server and your browser. VeriSign's proven technology is in use by 95 of the Fortune 100 companies and 65,000 other leading e-commerce sites. A server ID, also known as a digital certificate, is the electronic equivalent of a business license. VeriSign is the world's leading issuer of secure server IDs. VeriSign Secure Server Ids work in conjunction with Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology, which is the standard protocol for secure, web-based communications. For more information on VeriSign and secure transactions online, visit www.verisign.com.
Q. How do I know when I've entered a secure area on the Web?
A. In Netscape Navigator 4.0 and later and in Microsoft Internet Explorer the normally open padlock icon becomes shut. Also, the URL listed on the address line of your browser may begin with "https" rather than
"http".
How to Take an Independent Study Module (ISM) Online
Q. Can I print out the ISM for reading offline?
A. Yes. The older CE ISM courses posted on this site give you the option of reading the article in two ways: a "page-turner," in which the article is broken up into several pages for easier reading on screen, and a "full text" version, in which the article, references, and other material are all presented on one page for easier printing. With these ISMs, use your browser's print button to print the article.
The newer ISMs also offer the entire article in 2 formats. You may read the entire article the screen and in PDF format. You may use the PDF to page through the article online or you may print the entire article to read offline and then return to the site to take the test. When you return, "Log Back In" and click on the test link to register, take and pass the post-test, consult the feedback section for the correct answers, and their supporting rationale, and evaluate it.
Q. What if I get logged off in the middle of a test or want to take one test now and return at another time to take other tests in my cart?
A. After you register for an ISM, you will be given a password which you can use to log back into the site. It will also be e-mailed to you. Return to the main CE page and click on "Log Back In". After entering your password and selecting "Sign me in again," you will be shown a page listing all of the ISMs you have paid for and which ones, if any, you have completed.
To begin a test you have not yet taken, click on "Take Test at the bottom of the article." You can quit the test at any time and come back later to finish. To do this, click on "Grade My Test" at the bottom of the test page even though you have not yet completed the test. This will allow the system to store your test for your return visit. When you wish to return, click on "Log Back In" from the CE home page menu. Once you are logged back into the system, you will see a list of the ISMs you have completed and ones that are incomplete. Click on "Take Test" next to any incomplete ISM and you will be told how many questions you have completed and how many are left to complete.
NOTE: It is important that you remember your password if you cannot complete the test and wish to come back.
To begin an ISM you have not taken or return to one you have already begun, click on "read article."
Scoring and Grading Your Test and Receiving ANA Nursing Contact Hours
Q. How is my test graded?
A. Your answers are submitted to a server, which compares them to a list of correct answers and determines your score. You will instantly receive this score, a complete listing of all correct answers for the test questions, and a feedback section explaining why the answer is correct and the other choices are incorrect.
Q. How often can I take the nursing post-test for a specific online ISM?
A. You may retake the test as many times as necessary in order to obtain a pass grade of 75% or above. Each question is weighted equally to total 100%. If you do not pass on the first attempt, you can choose to retake the test. You will then be prompted to answer only the questions you missed.
Q. What do I need to do to improve my grade on the ISM's post-test?
A. It is suggested you follow these 3 steps before you re-take the test:
Step 1: Review the questions that you got wrong.
Step 2: Re-read the article to locate the area(s) in which the content of the question is discussed.
Step 3: Consult the feedback section in which the correct answer for each question is explained. Once you understand the question and the correct response, retake the test.
Q. How do I receive ANA Continuing Nursing Education Contact Hours for completing an online CE ISM/course?
A. After successfully passing the test for the ISM, you will be directed to fill out an evaluation. Your score and evaluation will then be submitted, and you will be able to print out your ANA Continuing Education Attendance and Contact Hour Certificate instantly.
Q. What if I need a hard copy of my certificate mailed to me?
A. To have a hard copy of the certificate mailed to you, please send a written request for a duplicate certificateth the address below. The cost for this service is $10.00 per certificate, payable to American Nurses Association. Please be sure to include your full name as you entered it into our online system and the title/titles of all CE modules you are requesting certificates for.
Mail to:
ANA
P.O. Box 504410
St. Louis, MO 63150-4410
Q. Can I share an ANA online CE ISM with my colleagues and friends?
A. Yes, once you have successfully completed and paid for the ISM, you will be able to print out the entire ISM (article, post-test, feedback section, registration, and evaluation forms). To print pages of the "page-turner" version of the ISM, you will need to use your browser's "print" button as you come to each of these pages, before moving on to subsequent pages. For each ISM, there is also a full-text, printer-friendly version of article.
Please share the complete ISM/course with your professional colleagues and others who you believe will be interested in it. Encourage them to take the ISM directly online to earn their own ANA Continuing Nursing Education Attendance and Contact Hour Certificate.
Q. Will I be able to use the contact hours earned from American Nurses Association's (ANA) Continuing Nursing Education Program ISMs to meet re- licensure requirements?
A. Yes. The individual registered nurse is responsible for meeting the licensure requirements for the state in which she/he practices. ANA believes that it has met the standards of all states requiring continuing nursing education. ANA accepts no liability for failing to meet these standards. If you have any questions about mandatory continuing nursing education requirements and the acceptability of ANA's continuing nursing education program activities, contact your State Board of Nursing.
Q. Will I be able to use the contact hours earned from ANA's Continuing Nursing Education ProgramISMs to meet the certification/credentialing body's requirements for certification and re-certification?
A. Yes. The individual registered nurse is responsible for meeting the requirements for certification and re-certification as specified by the certification/credentialing body. ANA believes it has met the standards of all certification/credentialing bodies requiring continuing nursing education. ANA accepts no liability for failing to meet these standards. If you have any questions about the acceptability of ANA's continuing nursing education program ISMs, contact your appropriate certification/credentialing body.
Q. Can contact hour certificates be awarded to undergraduate students in schools of nursing?
A. Yes, students within schools of nursing and allied health schools can be awarded a continuing nursing education contact hour certificate following successful completion of the CE program activity. Faculty are also encouraged to incorporate the content of the ISM into their specific (course(s) if appropriate.
Q. Can contact hour certificates be awarded to participants from other health care disciplines who complete ANA's Continuing Nursing Education Program Activities?
A. Yes, all participants within the target audience who meet ANA's delineated parameters for successful completion of the ISMs will be awarded ANA's Continuing Nursing Education Attendance and Contact Hour Certificate. However, please note other disciplines may or may not recognize the contact hours.
Q. What happens if I need a duplicate ANA Continuing Nursing Education Attendance and Contact Hour Certificate?
A. To reprint a certificate through this web site, return to the main page of NursingWorld.org/ce and log back in. You will need to enter the password you received when you registered for the ISM. You will then see a list of all ISMs for which you have registered. Next to the completed ISMs, there is an option to Reprint Certificate.
Refund Policy
Q. What is your refund policy?
A. If you are not satisfied with ANA's ISMs, full refunds will be granted by sending a request by mail to:
American Nurses Association
Online Services Department
8515 Georgia Ave., Suite 400
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Please provide your name, address, the title of your ISM, your CE login password, and e-mail address.
The Content Topic Areas for Continuing Nursing Education ISMs
Q. How does ANA select the content topic areas for its continuing nursing education ISMs?
A. ANA pays close attention to the comments and suggestions you make on your evaluation of the ISMs.
Your input is important to us. In addition, selection of the content topic areas is guided by:
- analysis of the findings of needs assessments gathered by nurse focus groups, in addition to surveys of and requests from the Constituent Member Associations (State Nurses Associations) and nursing specialty organizations;
- review of participant's comments made on evaluations of all ANA Continuing Nursing ISMs;
- evaluation of current critical issues facing nursing as a profession and individual nurses in all practice settings.
Q. What criteria does ANA use in determining whether to revise an ANA ISM which is passed its CE deadline?
A. ANA uses the following criteria to determine if an ANA ISM/course is to be revised:
- The topic continues to be relevant and important to nursing, the individual nurses in different practice settings and to ANA.
- The topic has been expanded by the latest advances in the science(s), new knowledge gained, and/or changes in the legal and ethical practice and policy arenas.
- Whether the scope and depth of changes/additions which would be required in the existing ISM are reasonable: e.g. simple addition of a section of content, new objective, additional test questions and references, or does it require the ISM to be completely re-written.
- The original author(s) of the ISM remains interested in completing the required revisions.
- Sufficient resources and/or additional grant funding is present to support the revision of the ISM.
Q. What happens to an ISM which passes its CE deadline and is not revised?
A. The content of this ISM remains of interest as it provides background information and historical perspectives on the topic. As in a library, the ISM is placed in the CE Archive section of our Web site and is available to be downloaded free of charge. Please remember, to cite ANA as the source and identify the CE deadline date.
Q. What does ANA, as an ANCC-accredited provider, mean to me as a participant of ANA's Continuing Nursing Education Program ISMs?
A. As an ANCC accredited provider, ANA has been evaluated and judged as having the capacity to plan, implement and, evaluate continuing nursing education program activities which are of high quality and adhere to the following:
- ANA Scope and Standards of Practice for Nursing Professional Development (2000)
- The American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation as a Provider of Continuing Nursing Education 2004-2005
- The Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements (2001)
Contacting Someone for Help or Regarding Other Questions
Q. Who do I contact about the ANA's ISMs or for information about ANA's other continuing education program activities?
A. If you have questions about:
- technical aspects of or problems with this CE web site, submit your questions via our Contact page.
- ANF, ANA/OJIN (OJIN: Online Journal of Issues in Nursing) ISMs and other ANA ISMs and Continuing Nursing Education program activities, call Chrischanne Smith at (800) 274-4262 ext.5107, e-mail: Lisa.Parks@ana.org at the Center for Continuing Education and Professional Development.
- becoming accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation as a provider or approver of nursing continuing education, contact: Barbara Feild at (800)284-2378 ext. 5263, e-mail barbara.feild@ana.org or visit the ANCC web site.
- having your individual continuing nursing education activity approved for contact hours, contact Barbara Feild at (800) 284-2378, ext.5263, e-mail barbara.feild@ana.org.
becoming certified through ANCC's certification programs, (800) 284-2378,ext.5276.
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