ANCC NPD-BC Certification Exam Syllabus

A. Theories, Models, and Principles

1. Standards of NPD Practice
2. Teaching/learning theories, models, and principles (eg, behaviorism, cognitive/social constructivism, educational neuroscience, learning styles, adult learning principles, learner characteristics)
3. Professional development models (eg, novice-to-expert, transition to practice, performance-based competencies, clinical ladder)

B. Educational Design and Delivery

1. Education design process (eg, assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation, learning domains)
2. Types of educational activities (eg, orientation, in-service, continuing education, interprofessional)
3. Competency management process

C. Continuing Education and Accreditation

1. Process for providing continuing education (eg, contact hours, requirements)
2. Managing process for continuing education credits

A. Leadership Principles, Concepts, and Structures

1. Leadership principles
2. Organizational structures, principles, and concepts
3. Change management
4. Resource management
5. Promotion of a healthy work environment (eg, physical/psychological safety, stress management, staff empowerment, work-life balance)
6. Diversity, equity, and inclusion advocacy
7. Applying communication, collaboration, negotiation, consultation, and conflict resolution methods
8. Group facilitation (eg, interprofessional/interdisciplinary teams, focus groups, meetings)

B. Professional Development

1. Professional standards, certification, and credentialing
2. Mentoring processes

A. Professional Standards and Ethics

1. ANA Scope and Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics
2. Organizational recognition (eg, The Joint Commission, Magnet®)

B. Risk Management

1. Risk-management concepts (eg, failure mode effect analysis, root cause analysis, just culture, incident reporting and escalation, incident command structures)
2. Analysis of gaps in practice that indicate potential risk management issues (eg, sentinel and reportable events, audits, reporting)

C. Legal and Compliance

1. Legal implications (eg, sensitive information protection, copyright law, plagiarism, and intellectual property)
2. Integration of legal and regulatory requirements (eg, scope of practice, federal, licensure, maintaining records)

1. Scholarly inquiry processes (eg, study design, data collection and interpretation)
2. Processes, translation, and dissemination of research, evidence-based practice, and quality improvement

A. Information Systems and Management

1. Business tools (eg, document production, spreadsheets, presentation software, virtual meetings)
2. Utilization of information technology systems (eg, security, databases, learning management systems, electronic health records)

B. Technology Tools and Strategies

1. Learning technology principles
2. Teaching strategies using technology (eg, simulations, gaming, computerbased learning, virtual reality, virtual education)
3. Clinical technologies (eg, smart pumps, scanners, smartphones, tablets, device integration, networking tools)

1. Performance improvement and project management methodologies
2. Organizational performance indicators, priorities, and trends
3. Project management (eg, quality improvement, performance improvement, new product/technology implementation)
4. Strategies for sustaining and maximizing outcomes