2019 was a year of stability for NBCSN. We have established good working relationships with our management and testing partners. We have an active, involved board doing its job and staying focused on our mission. We continue to fine-tune the strategic plan we developed at our November 2018 meeting, establishing a clear course for the future. A few highlights of 2019:
A focus this year has been to continue to develop a healthy item bank to increase the rigor of the NBCSN exam, the very “bread and butter” of our organization. We made great strides toward that goal with the recent very successful item-writing workshop. Thank you to Brenna Morse and the Exam Committee for providing leadership in this area.
Thanks to the hard work of Robin Cogan and the Outreach Committee we have a growing vibrant community of state liaisons to promote certification and an online study group to assist with test preparation. We have had continued growth in the numbers of exam applicants over this past year.
Sandi Delack and the Quality Assurance Committee have provided great leadership for and oversight of our policy tracker, reviewing our website, and Bylaws, and policies and procedures to assure that we are compliant with ABSNC standards for certifying bodies. A big thank you for a difficult job well done. We are in a strong place moving forward.
Thank you to Shirley Gordon and Amy Quesinberry for their work on the Recertification Committee. They have continued their work of auditing of recertification applications for eligibility and are looking toward next year and likely changes in the ABSNC Standards for recertification.
Cyndy Gilchrest and the Finance Committee capably monitored our financial performance and investment activity. We have a solid budget proposed for 2020 and I am optimistic that with our continued growth and exam fee increase that we are on solid financial footing for the future.
Lynette Ondeck provides valuable insight and an important link to our partner organization, NASN. We look forward to future collaborations around test preparation. Finally, a very big thank you to Pat Krin and TC Field-Bobroski, whose day-to-day management and in-depth knowledge make the role of the president so much easier and allow the board to focus on big picture discussions.
We are delighted to welcome our new board members, Robin Shannon, Cindy Hiltz, and Michelle Laubin all of whom bring exceptional experience to our board. We are excited to have them join us and we look forward to working with them!
Our enthusiasm for our new members is only tempered by the fact that we have to say goodbye to friends and colleagues who have served NBCSN so well. It is with gratitude that we thank Sandi Delack, Amy Quesinberry, and Cyndy Gilchrest for the work they have done for NBCSN and for school nursing. You are leaving our organization stronger than when you joined us. We will miss you!
On a personal note, it has been my great pleasure and honor to represent NBCSN in 2019. We have reason to be excited and optimistic for the future. Our organization is healthy, the number of applicants taking the exam continues to rise, and we have an excellent strategic plan to implement. Onward!
Lori Anderson, 2019 NBCSN President