Evaluation and Research Advisory Committee (ERAC)

In August 2017, the NBCRNA established the Evaluation and Research Advisory Committee (ERAC) to assist the board in providing oversight for project development and design, ongoing analysis, outcomes, and reports related to the NBCRNA's credentialing programs. The ERAC will develop an evidenced-based evaluation of all recommendations related to the credentialing programs to help inform the NBCRNA. The ERAC will provide summary recommendations to the NBCRNA Board of Directors for final determination.

GOALS

  1. Develop and implement a continuous evaluation plan that can enhance and gauge the effectiveness of current and future NBCRNA credentialing programs using logic models as a tool reviewed annually. 
  2. Develop, implement and continuously evaluate research projects systematically to inform evidence-based decisions with actionable data-driven insights related to current and future NBCRNA credentialing programs. 
  3. Collect, analyze, evaluate, execute and disseminate as deemed necessary by the NBCRNA Board of Directors any internal and externally generated empirical evidence as well as stakeholder recommendations that have implications for current and future NBCRNA credentialing programs. 
  4. Formulate reports and evidence-based recommendations related to the systematic research and program evaluation plan for consideration by the NBCRNA Board of Directors. 

As part of the ongoing work of the ERAC, five subcommittees have been formed: Simulation-Based CPC Assessment, Methods to Assess Knowledge and Competence, Longitudinal Assessment, English as a Second Language, and Value and Satisfaction. Questions? Email research@nbcrna.com. 

ERAC Subcommittees

  • Methods to Assess Knowledge and Competence Subcommittee

    The ERAC Methods to Assess Knowledge and Competence Subcommittee was formed to explore current and innovative methods for assessment of CRNAs’ crucial clinical decision-making knowledge, judgement, and skills throughout their career. The subcommittee has completed their work and developed a report for the Board of Directors on current and innovative methods that may serve as an alternative or addition to the CPC Assessment. These include: Simulation, Longitudinal assessment (e.g., MOCA Minute), and Virtual Reality – Gaming. 

  • Simulation-Based CPC Assessment Subcommittee

    The Simulation Subcommittee is chartered to explore innovative simulation modalities and determine what role, if any, they may play in NBCRNA credentialing programs.  The Simulation Subcommittee will develop a report on innovative simulation modalities such as screen-based simulation, extended reality (XR) which encompasses virtual/augmented/mixed reality, oral exams (OE), as well as objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) and determine what role, if any, they may have in any of the NBCRNA credentialing programs (i.e., SEE, NCE, CPC, Reentry, and NSPM).

  • Longitudinal Assessment Subcommittee

    The ERAC: Longitudinal Assessment Subcommittee was formed to investigate the use of longitudinal assessments as an alternative option to the CPCA and throughout the NBCRNA's credentialing programs and provide recommendations to the ERAC. The goal of this subcommittee is to explore current and innovative methods in longitudinal assessments of CRNA crucial clinical decision-making knowledge, judgement, skills and competence needed overtime throughout their practice to promote patient safety and support lifelong learning.

  • English as a Second Language (ESL) Subcommittee

    The ERAC ESL Subcommittee was formed to investigate considerations on examination performance for examinees with English as a second language (ESL) and Limited English proficiency (LEP) and provide recommendations to the NBCRNA Board of Directors.

  • Value & Satisfaction (V&S) Subcommittee

    The ERAC Value & Satisfaction (V&S) Subcommittee is chartered to investigate how to measure and evaluate value and satisfaction of the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) credential for the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA). The main goal of the Subcommittee is to develop a measurement and evaluation plan on the value and satisfaction of the CRNA credential.

Committee Member Publications/Awards 

Edwin Aroke headshot

 

August 2021 -  ERAC’s Edwin Aroke was given the John F. Garde Researcher of the Year Award by the AANA Foundation. The Researcher of the Year Award recognizes people who have made significant contributions to the practice of anesthesia through research and is named in memory of John F. Garde, a previous Foundation trustee, AANA executive director, and charter member of the AANA Foundation.

 

June 2021 - Edwin N. Aroke, PhD, CRNA, a member of the ERAC committee, won the Mary Hanna Journal Award for his article Perioperative Considerations for Patients With Major Depressive Disorder Undergoing Surgery.

Dr. Aroke also won second place for his article A Practical Approach to Acute Postoperative Pain Management in Chronic Pain Patients.

Dr. Aroke co-authored a review on the pharmacogenetics of postoperative pain management in the June 2020 AANA Journal. 

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ERAC committee member Sarah Jingying Zhang, PhD, CRNA, was presented the prestigious 2020 John F. Garde Researcher of the Year Award by the AANA Foundation. Dr. Zhang is currently working on a retrospective study of ketamine’s effect on postoperative delirium, and tranexamic acid effect on blood loss in complex spine cases.
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Nicole Hymel, CRNA, DNP, an NBCRNA Visiting Research Fellow , published results from her doctoral work on development of an antiemetic decision support tool in the August 2020 AANA Journal. 

 

 

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Virginia C. Muckler, DNP, CRNA, CHSE-A, co-authored an article in the August 2020 AANA Journal on perioperative anesthetic techniques to reduce surgical morbidity after amputation. 

Natalie Myers- VRF

 

NBCRNA's Visiting Research Fellow (VRF) Natalie Meyers, PhD, CRNA, and new Certificant Elected Director (CED), Sarah Giron, PhD, CRNA, co-authored an article in the Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing on preventing surgical delay and cancellation with patient-centered interventions. 

 

 

Full ERAC group with label

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

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