Kaiser Permanente ExamPrepConnect pilot increases nursing certification pass rates & boosts nurse empowerment
A case review article written by our partners at Kaiser Permanente is now published in the International Journal of Critical Care.
"Quality Improvement: Investing in Critical Care Nurses Post-Pandemic Through a Critical Care Certification Pilot Program"
Background
The medical world was turned upside down by an unpredictable pandemic leaving organizations, large and small, with burnt out nurses leaving the profession. With the loss of their colleagues, those who remain are often experiencing excessive strain leading to low morale.
One of America's largest health care providers, Nurse Scholars Academy, Kaiser Permanente (KP), worked with Springer Publishing as a part of their commitment to give back to their nurses, who have given so much, especially over recent years. KP found that 73% of their nurses are interested in additional certification opportunities. This presented the opportunity to invest in professional development to improve job satisfaction and retention, while also improving clinical competencies to provide a higher quality of care.
Gameplan
KP partnered with Springer Publishing and, together, determined that Critical Care was a key department impacted by the problem. KP offered all of their critical care RNs in the Northern California region the opportunity to participate in a program offering ExamPrepConnect to support them in earning CCRN certification.
ExamPrepConnect is an interactive platform that offers expertly developed study materials for nearly 50 health care certifications, including CCRN. After seeing the content, practice and simulated exams, games, discussion groups, and wide variety of prep tools included, over 200 nurses expressed interest in the program.
Results
In four months, 70 Nurses participated in the program all the way through taking the CCRN exam achieving a pass rate of 82.8%, well exceeding the national average of 71.5%. Participants who completed the greatest number of learning modules within ExamPrepConnect achieved an 87% pass rate, citing value in the practice questions, strengths and weaknesses dashboard, and personalized study plan, while those who did not use the platform had a pass rate of 68.7%.
| CCRN© Exam Takers | Pass Rate |
|---|---|
| EPC Users | 87.0% |
| Non-EPC Users | 68.7% |
| National Average | 71.5% |
The partnership succeeded at invigorating and motivating nurses with 69% feeling more empowered and competent in their role after participating in the program and 76% stating that they are now likely to stay within the organization.
Participant Feedback
Many participants provided feedback about the value of the program. Here are a few examples of their direct quotes reflecting their feelings about their experience, the organization, and ExamPrepConnect as a study tool.
“I had no idea how great it feels. It doesn’t upgrade my salary, but I don’t care. It feels great to have CCRN bragging rights next to my name!”
“Thank you so much for pushing me to better myself and believing in me!”
“It feels great to be a part of an awesome organization that supports my professional growth.”
“ExamPrepConnect is 5 stars for me! Rejoice with me! I passed the CCRN Exam today.”
“I would like to thank you for giving the opportunity to fulfill my wish to be a CCRN after working here for more than 18 years. Thank you again for your kindness and support.”
“The ExamPrepConnect program works!
If you are brave enough to run through the rainstorm of a CCRN exam, and come out victorious, let ExamPrepConnect be your GPS, flashlight, and raincoat.”
“The ExamPrepConnect program… works! If you are brave enough to run through the rainstorm of a CRRN exam, and come out victorious, let ExamPrepConnect be your GPS, flashlight, and raincoat.”
It's Your Turn
Let’s work together and produce these results in your organization! Schedule a demo or a 15-minute needs assessment call to get started.
CCRN® is a registered trademark of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). AACN does not endorse this exam preparation resource, nor do they have a proprietary relationship with Springer Publishing Company.
