Montana Annual Book of Reports 2015

Montana Nurses Association
Council on Continuing (CCE) Education
Annual Report
2015 Annual Book of Reports
Pamela S. Dickerson, PhD, RN-BC,
Continuing Education Director &
Sandy Sacry, MSN, RN
Chair, Council on Continuing Education
The overarching goals of the Council on Continuing Education are congruent with the mission of MNA
– to promote professional nursing practice, standards, and education and to provide nursing leadership
in promoting high-quality health care. Specifically, these goals are:
1. Provide quality continuing nursing education that supports the mission of MNA, following
guidelines as an accredited provider by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission
on Accreditation.
2. Approve educational activities and provider units that support nursing professional development
and improvement in patient care, following guidelines as an accredited approver by the American
Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
As required by accreditation criteria, there are outcome measures associated with both provider and
approver unit operations. Increasingly, there is emphasis on validating the importance of continuing
nursing education in improving the professional practice of nursing. Evidence of the excellence of our
work in this area includes receipt of the 2015 ANCC Premier Award for our accredited approver unit
and designation of Accreditation with Distinction of our accredited provider unit.
Council on Continuing Education:
The Council meets twice a year for face-to-face meetings in addition to conference calls for new
member orientation and other issues as required. Some members of the council focus on provider unit
operations and activities; other members serve as peer reviewers for the approver unit. Peer reviewers
undergo initial education and testing, as well as periodic validation of competence to ensure their
ability to assess applications congruently with peer reviewers across the United States. The Council
continues to recruit members interested in contributing to this important work of the Association.
Approver Unit:
The approver unit accepts applications from both individual activity applicants and organizations
wishing to be approved, or to continue their approval, as providers. Individual activities are approved
for up to two years once all accreditation program criteria have been met. Provider units are approved
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