The American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN) is accredited as an approver of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
The American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN) was established in 1980 with one of its goals to provide those interested and involved in all phases of perianesthesia care with approved educational offerings. The ASPAN Education Approver Committee works under the operational requirements for nursing continuing education put forth by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation (ANCC-COA). This Committee shall act as an approver for those interested in promoting education for all phases of perianesthesia nursing through an application for nursing contact hours.
ASPAN’s Education Approver Program provides nurses with the mechanism to apply for nursing continuing education contact hours for its membership. ASPAN will review the application and approve a specific number of contact hours based on predetermined criteria. ASPAN committees and component societies can plan their continuing education activities to meet the criteria as set forth by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation (ANCC-COA) operational requirements for nursing continuing education.
Provider Directed Provider Paced Activity
An educational activity designed for participant attendance. It is distinguishable by the fact that the provider who plans and schedules the activity determines the date, time and pace of the activity. Approval is for two years.
Provider Directed Learner Paced Activity
An educational activity designed for completion by learners, independently at the learner’s own pace and at a time of the learner’s choice. Approval is for two years.
As a specialty nursing organization, ASPAN is accredited by the American Nursing Credentialing Center Commission on Accreditation (ANCC-COA) to approve continuing nursing education activities for contact hours. The Education Approver Program is separate from the Education Provider Program. The education approver process is designed as an open model and adheres to the policy that any ASPAN component, individual or a group providing continuing education and demonstrating the capacity to meet the criteria may apply for continuing education approval.
The objectives/goals of the Education Approver Program are:
- To promote opportunities for the continuing professional development of all phases of perianesthesia nursing.
- To develop, maintain and review a continuing education approver system, adhering to ASPAN/American Nurses Credentialing Center Commission on Accreditation (ANCC-COA) operational requirements.
- To review and act upon applications submitted for continuing education contact hours according to ASPAN/American Nurses Credentialing Center Commission on Accreditation (ANCC-COA) operational requirements.
The Education Approver Committee believes that nurses who are actively engaged in a specialty are the best qualified to approve educational activities related to their professional practice.
The Education Approver Program strives to be constantly aware of health care issues that directly impact nursing practice and to approve educational activities pertinent to those issues so that quality care can be provided. ASPAN’s Education Approver Committee believes that nurses must act as advocates for the individual and the individual’s family and friends as these people have the right to quality health care and to accurate information about their options. Continuing education enhances nurses’ competence as health care providers and contributes to the maintenance and improvement of the health of the public.
The American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN) was established in 1980 with one of its goals being the provision of educational opportunities that meet the needs of the membership. ASPAN believes the practice of all phases of perianesthesia nursing requires in-depth knowledge and skills integrating to the interrelatedness of physiological and psychosocial life processes.
Continuing education for nurses enhances their competence as health care providers and contributes to the improvement of the health and wellness of the public. Professional nurses are individually accountable for continually assessing their learning needs and for participating in ongoing education to ensure their competence in practice.
The ASPAN Education Approver Program believes nursing to be the diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual or potential health problems. Health is a dynamic state of being in which the development and behavioral potential of the individual is realized to the fullest possible extent. The nurse in collaboration with other health care professionals interacts with the patient to provide care along the health care continuum from birth to death. Each patient is a unique biopsychosocial and spiritual being who has a right to respect and recognition. The internal and external factors, both physical and psychological, that influence the development and behavior of each individual are that individual’s environment.
ASPAN is responsible for developing and promoting the highest professional standard for all phases of perianesthesia nursing. The Education Approver Program supports the beliefs that nurses are adult learners who recognize that excellence in nursing requires life long learning by approved continuing education programs. These programs are consistent with the American Nurses Association’s Scope and Standards of Practice for Nursing Professional Development (ANA, 2000).
ASPAN is committed to the advancement of professional nursing and recognizes that nursing must address health care factors, which influence public health and the future of the profession. The education approver program supports this commitment by providing a review process for interested providers of continuing education.
The primary purpose of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses Education Approver Program is to review and to approve applications for continuing nursing education activities. This purpose is accomplished by providing a peer review approval process for reviewing applications and awarding contact hours when the operational requirements are met.
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