CERTIFICATE PROGRAM FOR THE SEIZURE AND EPILEPSY HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL

AN ASSESSMENT-BASED CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Certificate Program for the Seizure and Epilepsy Healthcare Professional is an assessment-based certificate program that uses instructional design principles to deliver an online self-study educational course followed by a post-assessment. This course will equip you with the tools you need to safely care for patients with seizures and epilepsy, while providing the type of quality care demanded by your institution. Participants will earn CE contact hours and an American Board of Neuroscience Nursing (ABNN) certificate of added qualification that indicates attainment of knowledge upon successful completion of the course.

The primary purpose of this certificate program is to provide foundational knowledge to provide evidence based care to patients who have seizures and epilepsy, who are admitted to an Epilepsy Monitoring Unit and who are being evaluated for and/or undergoing surgery for medically refractory epilepsy. There are six online modules, presented sequentially, to be completed to earn the certificate. Two additional modules provide information on a nurse’s role in a Comprehensive Epilepsy Specialty Clinic and an Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU). The completion of these two additional modules will enhance the professional’s and facility’s ability to care for patients admitted to a comprehensive epilepsy center or EMU and will meet the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC) accreditation requirements for nursing expertise in epilepsy.

	Seizure and Epilepsy Healthcare Professional (6 modules) (for professionals in non-NAEC accredited centers)	Seizure and Epilepsy Healthcare Professional in a Comprehensive Epilepsy Center (8 modules) (for professionals in NAEC accredited centers)
Content	• Module I—Anatomy, Physiology, and Etiology of Epilepsy • Module II—Seizures • Module III—Diagnosis and Assessment • Module IV—Treatment • Module V—Education and Self-Management • Module VI—Special Populations with Epilepsy	The original six modules plus two additional modules: • Module VII—Nursing Care in the Epilepsy Specialty Clinic • Module VIII—Nursing Care in the EMU
Target Audience (not limited only to nurses)	Healthcare professionals who: • Work with seizure/epilepsy patients but are not in an NAEC accredited center • Do not work with seizure/epilepsy patients but are interested in furthering their knowledge on the topic	Healthcare professionals who: • Work in an NAEC accredited center. This will fulfill the NAEC accreditation requirement of nursing education. • Do not work in an NAEC center but are considering moving to one OR their hospital is in pursuit of NAEC accreditation.
Post-Assessment	50 Questions	70 Questions
CE Contact Hours	Participants can earn 6 CE contact hours and 1.25 pharmacology hours by completing the course and passing the post-assessment with a score of >80% or higher.	Participants can earn 11 CE contact hours and 2.25 pharmacology hours by completing the course and passing the post-assessment with a score of >80% or higher.
Pricing	AANN members: $250 Non-Members: $400 For Institutional Pricing/Discounts, please see information at the bottom of this page.	AANN members: $300 Non-Members: $450 For Institutional Pricing/Discounts, please see information at the bottom of this page.
Renewal	3 years (see Candidate Handbook for more information)	3 years (see Candidate Handbook for more information)

Purchase the 6 Module Program(for professionals in non-NAEC accredited centers)

Purchase the 8 Module Program(for professionals in NAEC accredited centers)

Candidate Handbook/Course Outline

A detailed course outline is available in the handbook. Participants will have access to the modules, course, and post-assessment for 6 months. There is no time limit to complete a module. You may navigate forward and backward through the courses to review content. PowerPoint slides are available for download once purchased.

Download the Candidate Handbook

Post-Assessments

A “knowledge check” will be included at the end of each module to evaluate whether the learning objectives for the course have been met. A final post-assessment test also will be available once all modules have been completed. The test questions are multiple-choice, single answer. Participants must pass the post-assessment with an average score of > 80%. If the participant does not pass, they can rewatch the modules, and go back to review materials before taking the test again. Participants will have three chances to successfully pass the post-assessment.

Certificate of Added Qualification and CE

Participants who complete the first 6 modules will receive a certificate of added qualification as a Seizure and Epilepsy Healthcare Professional and will earn 6 CE contact hours. Participants who complete the first 6 modules AND the 2 additional NAEC unit modules and pass all assessments will earn a certificate of added qualification as a Seizure and Epilepsy Healthcare Professional in a Comprehensive Epilepsy Center and will earn 11 CE contact hours. Participants will also receive a certificate of completion.

Renewal

The Certificate for the Seizure and Epilepsy Healthcare Professional must be renewed every three (3) years to ensure that your epilepsy knowledge stays current and you are continuing to progress as an experienced epilepsy healthcare professional. The actual expiration date of a certificate is December 31st of the 3rd year after earning the certificate (i.e. certificate holders who earned their certificate in 2021 expires December 31st, 2024). To renew the certificate, the candidate must complete at least 25 continuing education hours related to seizures and epilepsy during the 3-year cycle. See detailed information on CE categories, requirements, and renewal fees on pages 4-5 and 12-14 of the Candidate Handbook. AANN and ABNN will provide reminder information in the middle of the year that the candidate is due to renew; however, it is ultimately the responsibility of the candidate to complete the renewal process. Each year, the ABNN randomly selects 10% of renewal applications to be audited. Candidates will be notified by email within 30 days of submission of their application. If your application is selected for audit, you will be required to send documentation for all CE activities within 21 days of notice of your audit. See more information about the audit process on page 5 of the Candidate Handbook.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Still have questions on the Seizure and Epilepsy Certificate Program? Read our FAQ document below to address some of your questions or concerns.

Download FAQs

A Message to Hospital Administrators

Support for the Certificate Program for the Seizure and Epilepsy Healthcare Professional reveals your dedication to the highest standards of care and excellence in clinical practice. Completing this certificate program testifies to the outstanding caliber of your healthcare providers and thereby makes your institution more attractive to prospective healthcare employees.

Hospital administrators can demonstrate support for the Certificate Program for the Seizure and Epilepsy Healthcare Professional by
• promoting current certificate recipients through public recognition of their achievement
and ongoing support of their continuing education
• challenging and inspiring staff to participate in the certificate program
• providing financial and career development incentives to those who demonstrate commitment
to their patients and profession through professional development in the certificate program.

These actions will have a positive impact on staff performance and satisfaction while encouraging better outcomes for patients.

As an employer or hospital administrator, you benefit from

Knowing the certificate holder is committed to continuous professional development
Better-qualified individuals for employment or advancement
Ability to match workplace needs with current, relevant training
Justification for potential compensation differential

The Value of the Certificate Program

Certificate holders benefit from:

Learning from a focused course of instruction
Acquisition of new skills
Opportunity to learn new content or skills specifically tied to workplace needs
Recognition of accomplishment for demonstrating desired educational outcomes
Increased recognition by peers and respect of colleagues in the profession
Improved opportunities for employability and advancement
Greater confidence in their professional competence
Increased professional trust from employers or the public
Increased autonomy in the workplace
Potential for higher compensation and greater career longevity

Institutional Pricing

Support your nurses in completing a certificate program. Institutions who purchase 10 or more subscriptions will receive 10% off. You can complete a group purchase through the online store. Please reach out to AANN Member Services at info@aann.org with any questions.