Current Hot Topics
Judy L. Sheehan, MSN, RN NCPD-BC
Program Director
ANA Massachusetts Accredited Approver Unit

Changing Criteria for NCPD Education

July 2025 marked the publication of the updated NCPD criteria. The most significant change in the requirements is a new emphasis on standards of practice and related competencies. The concept of competency can cause confusion, as practicing nurses often associate competency development with orientation and annual competency check-off sheets. The NCPD reference to standards and competency, however, refers to professional standards of practice as developed by one of the many nationally recognized professional associations. These standards guide practice and are based on research and peer review.

Competency standards provide a solid foundation for ongoing growth in nursing. They help nurses recognize areas for development and assist in setting clear learning goals, inspiring continuous improvement and excellence in their practice. Both clinical and academic nursing should be rooted in these professional standards; however, many nurses are unaware of their existence. Continuing Nursing Professional Development programs based on such standards promote better practice and support the professional growth of participants.

By fostering a deeper understanding of these standards, nurses are empowered to take ownership of their professional growth and align their ongoing education with the evolving expectations of the field. Embracing these benchmarks not only strengthens individual practice but also improves collaboration within healthcare teams, ensuring that all members work toward a shared vision of excellence.

Furthermore, as healthcare advances and patient needs grow more complex, the ability to adapt practice based on established standards becomes even more essential. Nurse educators and planners are encouraged to integrate competency-based outcomes into professional development activities, ensuring that learning remains relevant and impactful.

Ultimately, this renewed focus on standards positions NCPD as a dynamic, evidence-informed discipline capable of meeting the challenges of modern healthcare while upholding the highest standards of patient care and professional integrity.

The ANA Mass accredited approver unit's annual symposium will offer a platform to review standards from various professional organizations, help nurse planners incorporate these standards into their planning, and provide an opportunity to learn about the documentation requirements for educational programs.

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An Overview of the ANAMASS Accredited Approver Unit

The ANAMASS accredited approver unit is a dedicated team comprised of twelve nurse peer reviewers (NPR), a program director (PD), and an office administrator. These peer reviewers are volunteers with extensive experience in nursing professional development planning. Many of them have been or are currently involved in various organizations as nurse planners, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the unit.

The program director, who is hired part-time, plays a crucial role in overseeing the approver unit. This individual ensures that the unit adheres to ANCC criteria, maintaining the high standards required for accreditation. The office administrator supports the unit's operations, facilitating communication and coordination among the team members.

Each year, the approver unit undertakes a comprehensive review of the operational goals set in the previous year. This reflective process allows the team to assess their achievements, identify areas for improvement, and set new, strategic goals for the upcoming year. Through this annual review, the unit remains committed to continuous improvement and excellence in supporting nursing professional development.

The collaborative efforts of the nurse peer reviewers, program director, and office administrator are fundamental to the success of the ANAMASS accredited approver unit. Their dedication ensures that the unit continues to meet and exceed the expectations of the nursing community, fostering an environment of ongoing professional growth and development.

2025 Nurse Peer Reviewers – we thank you

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Clinical or Non-clinical: that is the Question

Content integrity is a critical component of approved nursing professional development activities.  A rigorous review by the nurse planner intends to ensure all educational offerings are free of commercial support. This gives participants confidence that the information provided is not a means of promoting products or services used on or consumed by patients or clients. In addition, unbiased content that is current and relevant provides a valid return on the investment for the learner who is dedicating time to the educational program. Nurses, after all, value their time as a commodity to be carefully utilized. Only a clinical program requires a review of the financial relationship status for all those in a position to control content. The planning committee members, speakers, presenters, authors, content experts, and the nurse planner must disclose any financial relationship. The nurse planner determines whether the relationship is relevant to the topic. Non-clinical programs that have nothing to do with patients, clinical care, or treatments are not reviewed for financial relationships. Non-clinical topics include leadership issues, ethics, professional topics, technology such as AI, computer updates, medical record requirements, etc. A program is clinical if it has to do with patient care or has the potential to have a commercial bias element, more specifically if it has to do with items used on or consumed by patients (medical equipment or pharmaceuticals, for example). 

Clinical program examples: Any disease or treatment, falls, medication interactions, nutritional interventions, physical therapy techniques etc.

Non-clinical program examples: how to use the new medical record, leadership, communication, stress management, discussion of emotional response to tough patient care, care for caregivers, etc.

If the planning committee is unclear as to the nature of the content, i.e., clinical vs. nonclinical, the review should be treated as clinical, and all those with control of content should be evaluated for relevant financial relationships. The appropriate disclosures should be made to the audience prior to the beginning of the program.

Frequently Asked Questions

The nurse planner is responsible for evaluating the presence or absence of relevant financial relationships and mitigating any identified relevant financial relationships during the planning phase of an educational activity.

Question: What is a relevant financial relationship?

Answer: A relevant financial relationship exists when an individual has the ability to control content of an educational activity and has a financial relationship with an ineligible company*, the products or services of which are pertinent to the content of the educational activity.

Does the person have the ability to control the content? Is there a non-employee relationship, and if so, is that relationship relevant to the content of the activity? The nurse planner identifies and mitigates relevant financial relationships as appropriate during the planning process. She consults with the Primary Nurse Planner with any questions or concerns.

Question: What are eligible and ineligible companies?

Answer: An eligible organization is one where the primary business is NOT producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

An ineligible organization is one where the primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

FAQS

Which professional titles qualify to earn Contact Hours from programs that have ANAMASS accreditation? For example, I am aware that registered nurses and advanced practice providers qualify. Is the same true for certified nursing assistants?

It is always incumbent upon the individual claiming continuing nursing professional development contact hours to understand the criteria for licensure or certification for their specialty.

Nursing continuing professional development programs assume a level of preparation at the RN or APRN level (ADN through MSN). While nursing assistants are welcome to attend, and may receive a certificate of completion, content is designed to be withing the scope of a licensed Registered Nurse, not a CNA. For example, a course which includes suturing practice would not be in the scope of a CNA; even though they can attend, they would be outside their scope of practice to then perform suturing.

ANAMASS determines if individual activities meet the criteria for nursing continuing professional development as outlined by ANCC. Other disciplines, such as social workers, CNA's, etc. are responsible for understanding the criteria for professional development for their discipline, and may collect a certificate of completion and present that to their respective licensing and certification bodies.

What clinical or professional problem are you trying to solve?

• Do you know why this problem is a cause for concern? What is the likely outcome if the problem persists?
• It is necessary to determine who is involved and who is affected by this problem. Is it the nurse, the organization, or the patient?
• What is the underlying cause of the problem? Is it that the nurses don’t know how (knowledge) are not able (skill), are not performing it (practice).
• What would make a difference in the outcome?

Although it is not required to include the target audience in the PPG statement, it is important to consider the target audience when investigating the problem or opportunity and determining the gap. This helps ensure the gap is specific to the problem or opportunity the education is targeting.

TIP*: When developing the Professional practice gap, it is often easier to consider the Current State, your Desired State, and the difference between the two (Gap).

*from the ANAMASS approver unit tip sheet. The full tip sheet is available by request: infoce@anamass.org

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Where has COI Conflict of Interest Gone? Is it true the term “COI” should no longer be used?

A.  Yes, Do Not refer to COI or Conflict of Interest in your NCPD documentation. The assessment of Relevant Financial Relationships (RFR) has taken the place of the Conflict of Interest (COI) assessment for nursing continuing professional development programs. To assess relevant financial relationships (RFR) the content of the program is reviewed to determine if it is clinical or non-clinical in nature. If it is a clinical program (regarding a patient’s condition, illness, medical intervention etc.) everyone in the position to control content must be reviewed for financial relationships with Ineligible organizations. An ineligible company is one that produces or distributes products that are ingested by or used on patients, such as pharmaceutical companies or medical equipment manufacturers (A complete listing of ineligible and eligible organizations can be found on ANAMASS-AU.org on the information and instructions section of the website). In general, employees or owners of ineligible organizations are not permitted to be involved with clinical programming, others such as consultants, stockholders etc. may be involved if a mitigation process has been undertaken. Then it may include a review of the slide set, a letter of agreement or limitation of the person’s involvement in the process etc. The process of review and the final determination made by the nurse planner must be documented within the activity record. The disclosure statements for clinical programs vs. nonclinical programs differ and must be provided to the participants prior to the beginning of the program.

Q. How do the disclosure requirements for Clinical vs non-clinical programs differ?

Clinical programs require the following disclosures:

1. Approved Provider or Activity Approval Statement
2. Criteria for Awarding Contact Hours
3. Presence or absence of relevant financial relationships for all individuals in control of content

If no relevant financial relationship has been identified - Disclose that no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies were identified.

If any relevant financial relationships have been identified: Disclose the names of individuals with relevant financial relationships, the names of the ineligible companies with which they have a relationship (by name only, do not add logos or trade names), the nature of the financial relationships, a statement that all financial relationships were mitigated.

Non-Clinical Programs Require the following disclosures:

1. Approval Statement for a Provider Unit or an Individual Activity Program
2. Criteria for Awarding Contact Hours

If applicable both clinical and non-clinical programs must disclose Commercial Support, Expiration date for enduring materials,  and Joint Providership: include the name of the Provider and the name of the Joint Provider.

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Current Hot Topics

Ensuring Valid Content in Nursing Professional Development 

The ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education are designed to ensure that accredited continuing education serves the needs of patients and the public, is based on valid content, and is free from commercial influence.(www.accme.org/accreditation-rules/standards-for-integrity-independence-accredited-ce) The ANCC adopted these standards and have since required the Accredited Approver Units adopt them as well when approving provider units or individual activity applicants.  To ensure content is based on valid content the ANA Massachusetts Approver Unit’s planning templates have been changed.  Now, instead of an attached planning grid, the content, supporting references, contact hour calculation is entered within the activity template. 

The supporting resources follow the content table and should include the best available evidence that appropriately supports the outcome of the educational activity. The nurse planner should state these references have been reviewed and have been found to be valid and free from commercial influence. Best practice is for references and resources that have been developed and/or published within the last 5-7 years and have come from reputable. Additional sources of supporting evidence may include:

• Information available from organization/web site (organization/web site must use current available evidence within past 5 - 7 years as resource for readers; may be published or unpublished content; examples – Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Centers for Disease Control, National Institutes of Health)
• Information available through peer-reviewed journal/resource (reference(s)should be within past 5 – 7 years)
• Clinical guidelines (example - www.guidelines.gov)
• Expert resource (individual, organization, educational institution) (book, article, web site)
• Textbook reference

Question regarding these criteria can be addressed to jsheehan@anamass.org