Certification Marketing Committee Survey Results

Submitted by Donna Kuhns, CHUC, Marketing Committee Chair

This survey was published in the October-December 2008 issue of the Coordinator so that NAHUC, your professional association, can continue to help meet the needs of certified health unit coordinators, as well as for those who have not yet taken that step. Thank you to all who took the time to complete the certification survey. A special thank you to Betty Lamb for receiving and recording all the results.  The summary is below. These results will now be shared with the testing agency, AMP, to put together a marketing tool for the certification exam.

1. What year did you become certified?    Answers varied from 1983-2008.

2. How did you learn about the health unit coordinator certification program?

Work or coworker=73, Tech school=10, Seminar= 4, Mailing= 3, NAHUC Brochure/Chapter=9,  Internet=2

3. What motivated you to become certified?

3.1. It was required to retain employment. Yes=8 No=97 (7% answered yes)

3.2. It was a personal goal.  Yes=126 No=5 (97% answered yes)

4. Regarding the Certification Program:

4.1. The experience and educational prerequisites are appropriate.  Yes=130 No=20 (88% answered yes)

4.2. The candidate handbook provided me with the information I needed to prepare for the examination.   Yes=112  No=14 (89% answered yes)

4.3. The examination fee is consistent with other similar allied health credentialing programs.

Yes=116 No=40 (74% answered yes)

4.4. I think the difficulty of the examination is at the appropriate level. Yes=123 No=9 (93% answered yes)

4.5. The recertification requirements (36 hours of continuing education over 3 years or retesting) are appropriate.  Yes=117 No=15 (88% answered yes)

4.6. The number and locations of the test centers were a help in enabling me to take the examination

Yes=100 No=26 (80% answered yes)

5. What has certification done for you? (Please circle Yes or No)

5.1. Created increased financial opportunities for me.  Yes=53 No=77 (41% answered yes)

5.2. Required to retain my employment or increased job security.   Yes=34 No=97 (26% answered yes)

5.3. Created new job opportunities for me.  Yes=42 No=88 (32% answered yes)

5.4. Increased my respect as a professional member of the health team at my place of employment.

Yes=86 No=45  (76% answered yes)

5.5. Motivated me to stay current with my job requirements. Yes=106 No=28 (80% answered yes)

6. Have you heard of plans regarding Computerized Physician Order Entry (POE or CPOE) at your place of employment? Yes=111 No=28 (80% answered yes)

If yes, have you already implemented CPOE? Yes=30 No=90 (25% answered yes)

If no, do you know how soon CPOE will be implemented?  Answers varied from this year to 2-3 yrs

7. Does your place of employment have the ANCC Magnet Status? Yes=46 No=81  (38 % answered yes)