ILNA Points: Score Like a Pro

Have you heard of ILNA for re-certifying your OCN? The Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC) grants certification to oncology nurses, and they have updated the renewal process. Instead of using ONCPRO logs to track professional development activities, they are now using an Individual Learning Needs Assessment (ILNA) method. The first nurses to use the ILNA method were OCNs in 2012; because renewal occurs every 4 years, ILNA points will be submitted beginning in 2016. Renewal for other ONCC certifications (i.e. AOCN or CPON) still requires ONCPRO, however, so be sure to check the specific requirements for your certification.

Here’s how the process works. If you recently took the OCN exam, you will receive a score report that explains your specific learning needs for your first recertification. You will obtain the required development points over the next four years and document those points online using the ONCC LearningBuilder tracking tool. If you are renewing certification, you will receive an e-mail message that you are “authorized to assess” along with instructions on how to complete the ILNA. Basically, you will complete an assessment (or knowledge survey) on any computer — no special testing center is needed. The assessment contains 100 items (some are multiple choice, some are other formats) that you are given 100 minutes to complete. There is no pass/fail and your result does not affect your OCN standing.

After you finish your ILNA, you will receive a report with how many points you need in each major subject area to recertify. One CNE/CME contact hour = 1 point; 1 academic credit = 15 points, 1 hour presentation = 3 points, and points for publication depend on many factors, so refer to the ILNA Point Categories breakdown. The number of points required ranges from 25 to 100. If your assessment says you need < 25 points, then you can choose points from any of the OCN blueprint content areas. If you need ≥ 25 to 100, your report will show YES/NO if ILNA points are required in that category and how many you need. For example:

Oncologic Emergencies (12)        NO

Survivorship (8)                           YES

This means you do not need any further education on oncologic emergencies, but you do need to obtain 8 points on survivorship issues. How do you know what that includes? Look under that category on the OCN blueprint. Under “Survivorship,” for example, there are several sub-topics including early/late effects, secondary cancer, rehabilitation, long-term follow-up, and more. Earning 8 contact hours of CNE on these topics would fulfill the requirement to obtain 8 ILNA points, in this case.

Any ANCC-approved CE or ACCME (AMA) CME can be used toward earning ILNA points – online or live. Only credit obtained AFTER you take the ILNA assessment will count toward your points. You cannot use those CE certificates that you have been collecting before you took your ILNA. For our peers who have recertified for many years, you realize that ILNA is a good thing. With ONCPRO you had a minimum of 100 points required. Now, you will likely have less points required, but the new method will better ensure your current knowledge. It is like personalized medicine – only now you’ll have personalized education.

By Elaine DeMeyer, MSN, RN, OCN and Amy Ford, BSN, RN, OCN