Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about the RN Certification program:

1. What is national nursing certification?
   Nursing certification is defined as the formal recognition of the specialized knowledge, skills, and experience demonstrated by the voluntary achievement of standards identified by an independent accredited nursing specialty organization to promote optimal patient care. Through the completion of specialized education, experience in a specialty nursing practice, and the completion of a qualifying exam, the nurse achieves specialty certification credentials. The process of recertification seeks to assure the public that the certificant has maintained a level of knowledge in the specialty, as well as ongoing participation in activities that support the maintenance of competence in that specialty. Maintenance of certification is accomplished through a variety of mechanisms including reexamination, continuing education, self-assessment, and ongoing clinical specialty practice. National certification does not include educational or training programs provided such as Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), Peripheral Inserted Central Catheter Line (PICC), Oncology Nursing Society training (ONC) and fetal heart monitor training as examples.
   

2. What was the agreement between S-Cal Kaiser Permanente and United Nurses Association of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) in 2005 related to national certification?
   S-Cal Kaiser Permanente in partnership with UNAC/UHCP agreed during the recent 2005 contract negotiations to offer "Recognition Payment" for Registered Nurses only. The new contract language will provide UNAC RN's who have obtained certification through an agreed upon national nursing certification organization to receive an initial $500.00 "Recognition Payment". Registered Nurses that recertify following the initial Recognition Payment" will receive a "Recertification Payment" of $250.00. Recognition Payments and Recertification Payments are limited to one (1) national certification per UNAC Registered Nurse. The UNAC RN is eligible for the payment after she/he has worked one (1) year from date of hire at Kaiser Permanente.
   

3. What is the process for a current staff nurse to obtain recognition payment for national certification?
   The staff nurse should bring two copies of the national certification to his/her department manager for validation and completion of Special Payment Request Form #3620. The manager will review the approved KP list of national certification agencies to validate that the certification is acceptable. The manager is to keep a copy of the certification in the employee file as well as a copy of the Special Payment Request form and to reference the achievement of successful certification accomplishment in the employee performance evaluation. The manager or nurse will forward all the information and paperwork to the Human Resources Service Center (HRC), where the information will be added in the "My HR" computer for record keeping. Then the paperwork will be forwarded to the HRC to the Payroll Department. The certification recognition and/or recertification payment will be included in the nurse's regular paycheck.
   

4. When will the RN National Certification recognition program start?
   Kaiser/UNAC /UHCP have agreed to begin this new program starting in January 1, 2006.
   

5. What if an RN holds more than one national nursing certification such as CNOR, CCRN and CEN: Can they receive $500.00 for each certification they hold?
   "Recognition Payment" is limited to one (1) national certification per UNAC Registered Nurse. The employee must identify only one (1) certification in her/his current practice specialty to receive recognition payment. The employee is responsible for submission of information in accordance with the KP process. The employee will receive the initial $500.00 one time only.
   

6. When the employees renew their certification, how much "Recertification Payment" will they receive?
   The UNAC RN staff nurse will be awarded $250.00 as a "Recertification Payment" after submitting proof of renewal with current certification in accordance with the KP certification process. It is the Registered Nurse's responsibility to maintain a current and valid certification and to provide proof of recertification to his/her department manager.
   

7. How will I, as the department manager, keep track of the certification of my employees and the expiration dates of the certification?
   The role of the nursing department manager is to validate and approve the employee certification information, not to track expiration dates. It is the employee's responsibility to present the required information to her/his department manager. The required information includes:

   1. Two copies of Certification to be presented;

   2. Completion of a Kaiser Special Payment Form #3620 that can be obtained from the manager or Human Resources. The manager is to validate that the information is correct and that the certification is by one of the certifying agencies recommended by Kaiser. The manager signs the Special Payment Form # 3620 and must fill in the earning code of "846" in Special Payments Other box, and references "National Certification Recognition Payment, UNAC only". The department manager, designee or nurse will forward the Special Payment Form and a copy of the certification to the HR Service Center (at fax number 1-877-477-2329) to be copied in the "My HR" database. Once this is completed, the information will be forwarded by the HR Service Center to Payroll for payment to the employee in a regular paycheck.
      

8. To what Cost Center and Expense Code will the recognition or recertification payment be charged?
   The recognition and/or recertification payment will be taken out of the Manager's specific cost center/ expense code that approves the payment to the employee. The expense code to be used for all recognition or recertification expenses is "Other" category earning code "846".
   

9. Will the employee be taxed for receiving national certification recognition payment or recertification payment?
   Yes.
   

10. How will the recognition payment be provided to the employee? Will it be included in their regular payroll check, or on a separate check?
    The recognition payment or the recertification payment will be included in the employee's regular paycheck after verification has been done by the department manager and the paperwork has been processed based on the KP procedure. A separate check for recognition payment will not be given, as this would require taxing the employee at the maximum rate. In addition, issuing separate checks is costly to the organization.
    

11. How long will it take for the employee to receive his/her certification reimbursement money?
    The staff nurse should receive his/her recognition payment within the next two to three pay periods.
    

12. Where can the employee find information about various types of national certification organizations?
    There are several resources for national certification information. The S-Cal Kaiser Permanente Web site has a link to the SCAL Nursing Pathways home page, which is located at:
    http://nursingpathways.kp.org/scal/
    
    From home page, under the section entitled "Education," the nurse can click on "RN Certification," This page will provide you with specific information entitled Definition of Nursing Certification" and links that will show nationally certified programs that Kaiser recognizes as appropriate certification programs. All managers and KP education departments have been provided with a list of 22 nursing specialty fields. These fields includes 36 national specialty organizations for each of the specialty nursing areas. This information included the granting organization, special requirements for each of the certifications, eligibility information, the web address, exam costs and renewal and recertification information.
    

13. What nursing specialties have KP and UNAC identified for national certification reimbursement?
    Reimbursement for national certification is available in the following nursing specialty areas:

• Advice/Call Nursing
• Critical Care Nursing
• Dermatology Nursing
• Diabetis Education
• Emergency Nursing
• Gastroenterology Nursing
• Gerontology Nursing
• Heart Catheterization Laboratory Nursing
• Home Health Nursing
• Hospice Nursing
• Infusion Nursing
• Intermediate Care Nursing
• Lactation Nursing
• Medical-Surgical Nursing
• Maternal Child Health Nursing
• Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing
• Nephrology Nursing
• Neuroscience Nursing
• Oncology Nursing
• Orthopedic Nursing
• Peri-Operative Nursing
• Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing
• Pediatric Nursing
• Radiological Nursing
• Rehabilitation Nursing
• Reproductive Endoccrinology/Infertility Nursing
• Urologic Nursing
• Women's Health Nursing
• Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nursing
  

1. If I get an employee transferred from another KP medical center or an ambulatory care unit, how will I know if the employee has previously received a Recognition or recertification payment?
   You can check with the previous manager. In addition, you can check with HR Service Center to verify if any previous recognition or recertification payments under earning code "846" have been previously given to the employee and ask for the dates and amount the payment.
   

Learning Scenarios
Review of some common scenarios will assist managers to consistently apply the Recognition process across all KP entities. Topics include:

• Transfers
• Newly Hired Nurses
• Previous Certifications Renewals

View some scenarios
(Word file; 24 KB)

 

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