ABPANC Volunteer Opportunities
ABPANC relies on the knowledge and expertise of CPAN® and CAPA® certified nurses to guide our organization’s future efforts.
As an ABPANC volunteer, you have the unique opportunity to contribute to the development of the CPAN® and CAPA® certification programs and to give back to the profession you’ve built a career on. You’ll also receive continuing education credits while expanding your professional network and meeting other perianesthesia nurses from across the country.
Click on the video below to view a “Volunteer Town Hall” with the ABPANC Board of Directors. This video helps to answer questions you have about volunteering with ABPANC.
ABPANC’s volunteer opportunities are listed below. Please click on each description to read more and to apply and submit an application for the selected volunteer committee/event. ABPANC will notify you when there are volunteer openings that match your application.
Questions about this process? Contact ABPANC@cpancapa.org.
Governance Division
The purpose of the Governance Division is to provide oversight in the governance functions of ABPANC. Governance Division volunteer groups are composed of members who are: representative of a broad demographic and geographic distribution in a similar proportion as the CPAN and CAPA certificant population.
Limitations: The Governance Division, governance division staff, committee volunteers, and subject matter experts may also be involved in either Education Division committees or Certification Division committees, but not both.
Marketing & Awards Committee
Purpose: The Marketing & Awards Committee develops a communications strategy that supports the mission and strategic goals of ABPANC. The committee contributes expertise in content and messaging related to perianesthesia nursing and certification to ensure consistent branding and messaging for target audiences. In addition, the committee reviews and determines recipients of ABPANC awards, including but not limited to: ABPANC Certification and Recertification Scholarships, the ABPANC Advocacy Award, the ABPANC Certification Achievement Award, and the Shining Star Awards.
Recruitment, Selection, and Terms: This is a standing committee comprised of members of the ABPANC board of directors and CPAN/CAPA certified nurses, as needed. This is a one-year commitment.
Meetings: Committee members will participate in four 1-hour virtual meetings, with up to five hours of work between calls.
Annual Contact Hours Awarded: up to 10 hours
Prerequisites: Must be a CPAN/CAPA certified nurse in good standing or a current member of the ABPANC Board of Directors.
Board of Directors
Purpose: ABPANC’s Board of Directors:
1. Assures that the vision, mission, purposes and values of ABPANC are current and relevant as related to the existing health care environment and needs of the perianesthesia patient and their family.
2. Assures that ABPANC is strategically positioned to accomplish organizational goals and objectives.
3. Fulfills its fiduciary duty through the governance activities of ABPANC.
4. Assures for the sound management of ABPANC’s financial resources.
5. Assures executive leadership in the selection, evaluation, and dismissal of the Chief Executive Officer.
6. Represents ABPANC by effectively articulating positions and policies to key stakeholders.
7. Assures effective communication between ABPANC and ASPAN and other key stakeholder organizations by demonstrating the spirit and commitment to the continued successful, collegial work between organizations.
Recruitment, Selection, and Terms: Information on the recruitment and selection processes is included in the Board of Directors Handbook. The term limit for a Director is two years.
Meetings: Members of the Board of Directors are expected to participate in phone/video meetings at least twice a year; in-person meetings twice a year (travel expenses paid by ABPANC) and other commitments (email correspondence, information review) as needed.
Prerequisites: Must be a CPAN/CAPA certified nurse in good standing and currently employed in perianesthesia nursing in some capacity.
Certification Division
The Certification Division oversees the development and maintenance of ABPANC’s certification exams and its recertification program; and the selection, training, and development of exam content volunteers.
Certification Division volunteer groups are composed of members who are: (1) representative of a broad demographic and geographic distribution in a similar proportion as the CPAN and CAPA certificant population; and (2) content experts in all areas contained in the exam blueprints.
The Certification Division, Certification Division staff, committee volunteers, and subject matter experts cannot be involved in the creation, approval, writing, endorsement, or delivery of ABPANC’s education materials for three years before, during and three years after their service in the Certification Division. Additional limitations may apply and are outlined in each job description.
Exam Review Committee
The Examination Review Committee (ERC) is responsible for reviewing and approving CPAN and CAPA examination items and reviewing and approving the final selection of items that comprise each test form. The ERC will review and approve CPAN® and CAPA® draft exams ensuring that they reflect current and relevant perianesthesia nursing practice as defined by the most recent Role Delineation Study, the most current test blueprints, and current rubrics and to ensure that there is an even distribution of item topics.
The Exam Review Committee meets in person once a year in November/December for 2 ½ days.
Committee Composition: Exam Review Committee members must be CPAN and/or CAPA certified in good standing and actively working in perianesthesia nursing. ERC members must have prior experience writing ABPANC exam items.
The Examination Review Committee is led by two co-chairs (1 CPAN, 1 CAPA) that serve a one-year term. The co-chairs review the final draft of their respective exam.
Each committee member is appointed for a one-year term and may be re-appointed for three consecutive terms in a non-officer position. The Examination Review Committee shall be composed of 6 to 10 CPAN and 6 to 10 CAPA currently certified subject matter experts.
Limitations and Restrictions: Please note that Exam Review Committee members cannot:
- be a current ABPANC Certification Coach
- be involved in teaching examination review courses
- take the CPAN or CAPA exams nor be involved in any kind of candidate preparation for a period of 3 years after item writing
Contact Hours: This committee offers 20 credit hours for full participation in the exam review meeting.
Timeline:
- January: Call for volunteers
- February/March: Committee slate for next committee year is selected
- November/December 2023 – Exam Review Committee meeting location TBD
To apply: Follow the link below. Once you have created a sign-up, you will be emailed a link to the volunteer interest form. Prospective volunteers will be asked to submit their name, contact information, demographics, professional information and a current resume or curriculum vitae.
Item Writers
Item Writers are responsible for drafting proposed items and coding each item to an appropriate reference. Item Writers will write items based on item writing principles used by PSI, the ABPANC style guide, and ABSNC Accreditation standards. Item Writers will write CPAN® and CAPA® items that reflect current and relevant perianesthesia nursing practice as defined by the most recent Role Delineation Study.
CPAN certificants can write items for the CPAN exam, and CAPA writers can write items for the CAPA exam. CPAN-CAPA dual certified nurses can write for either exam.
Item writers will receive training at an Item Writing Workshop and/or through a virtual training from PSI prior to writing items. Item writers will be given assignments based on needed areas in the item bank.
An item writing drive will occur once a year over a 1-to-2-month period.
Committee Composition: Item writers must be CPAN and/or CAPA certified in good standing and actively working in perianesthesia nursing. ABPANC seeks ten to twenty-five volunteers for each certification.
Limitations and Restrictions: Please note that item writers cannot:
- be a current ABPANC Certification Coach
- be involved in teaching examination review courses
- take the CPAN or CAPA exams nor be involved in any kind of candidate preparation for a period of 3 years after item writing
Contact Hours: Item writers will be awarded 2 contact hours per complete item submitted.
Timeline
- January: Call for volunteers
- April 27, 2023 – Item Writing Workshop at ASPAN conference
- July 2023– Item Writing Training (virtual)
- July -September 2023 – virtual item writing drive
To apply: Follow the link below. Once you have created a sign-up, you will be emailed a link to the volunteer interest form. Prospective volunteers will be asked to submit their name, contact information, demographics, professional information and a current resume or curriculum vitae.
Item Review Committee
The Item Review Committee (IRC) is responsible for reviewing and approving new and revised items for inclusion in the CPAN and CAPA item banks. The Item Review Committee is also responsible for item bank maintenance in conjunction with PSI: monitoring the items in the CPAN and CAPA item banks and for retiring existing items or recoding them to appropriate references.
The Item Review Committee will review items based on item writing principles used by PSI, the ABPANC style guide, and ABSNC Accreditation standards. The IRC will review and approve CPAN® and CAPA® items that they reflect current and relevant perianesthesia nursing practice as defined by the most recent Role Delineation Study.
The Item Review Committee meets in person once a year in August/September for 2 ½ days.
Committee Composition: Item Review Committee members must be CPAN and/or CAPA certified in good standing and actively working in perianesthesia nursing. IRC members must have prior experience writing ABPANC exam items.
Item Review Committee is led by two co-chairs (1 CPAN, 1 CAPA) that serve a one-year term. The co-chairs review the final draft of their respective exam.
Each committee member is appointed for a one-year term and may be re-appointed for three consecutive terms in a non-officer position.
Limitations and restrictions: Please note that Item Review Committee members cannot:
- be a current ABPANC Certification Coach
- be involved in teaching examination review courses
- take the CPAN or CAPA exams nor be involved in any kind of candidate preparation for a period of 3 years after item writing
Contact Hours: This committee offers 20 credit hours for full participation in the item review meeting.
Timeline
- January 2023: Call for volunteers
- February/March 2023: Committee slate for next committee year is selected
- September 2023 – Item Review Committee meeting
To apply: Follow the link below. Once you have created a sign-up, you will be emailed a link to the volunteer interest form. Prospective volunteers will be asked to submit their name, contact information, demographics, professional information and a current resume or curriculum vitae.
Education Division
The Education Division provides oversight in the development of programs and resources to assist CPAN or CAPA exam candidates in their journey to certification. Education Division volunteer groups are composed of members who are: (1) representative of a broad demographic and geographic distribution in a similar proportion as the CPAN and CAPA certificant population; and (2) content experts in all areas contained in the exam blueprints.
Limitations: The Education Division, education division staff, committee volunteers, and subject matter experts cannot be involved in the creation, approval, writing, endorsement, or delivery of ABPANC’s certification examinations for three years before, during and three years after their service in the Education Division. Additional limitations may apply and are outlined in each job description.
Certification Coach
The ABPANC CPAN®/CAPA® Certification Coach is a facilitator of the study process for individuals/candidates who are seeking certification. A Certification Coach will: help organize study sessions; identify content experts to assist with content identified in the 12-Week Study Plan; ensure awareness of registration deadlines and recommend study resources and references.
Contact hours: As a Coach, you receive credit hours for any coach training you attend (hour for hour) and five (5) contact hours for each individual you coach and can earn up to 60 contact hours in a 3-year recertification period to apply toward recertification.
Prerequisites: Must be CPAN and/or CAPA certified in good standing, or a nursing educator or RN Clinical Leader in instances where currently certified nurses are not available.
Limitations and Restrictions: ABPANC coaches may not teach or participate in a formally sponsored CPAN/CAPA Exam Review Course to avoid a perception of conflict of interest.
Timeline:
- Applications are accepted year-round.
- Certification Coaches sign up for a one-year commitment. Coaching may be done virtually or in-person.
- Though not required, coaches are encouraged to attend ABPANC’s Spring Coaches Forum (in-person, held in conjunction with the ASPAN National Conference) and a fall Virtual Coaches Forum.
To apply: Follow the link below. Once you have created a sign-up, you will be emailed a link to the volunteer interest form. Prospective volunteers will be asked to submit their name, contact information, demographics, professional information and a current resume or curriculum vitae.