Title: Evaluation of testing as a method to assess continuing competency in nurse anesthesia practice: A systematic review

Authors: Riddle, Dru; Baker, Kathy; Sapp, Alysha

Introduction: Competency in healthcare practice has become a priority for sustaining the goals of quality and safety in patient care delivery. Evaluating maintenance of competency for practitioners beyond their initial licensure and credentialing has become a focus in recent years.
Methods: A systematic review was conducted to evaluate testing as a method of assessing continued competency in nurse anesthesia practice. First, competency and competence wee defined. Using the Joanna Briggs Institute method for a comprehensive systematic review, a three-step literature search aiming to find both published and unpublished studies was completed followed by critical appraisal of included manuscripts. Two reviewers conducted critical appraisal using Joanna Briggs Institute Instruments for the specific publication type independently and no disagreements arose. Data were extracted in the form of direct quotes and synthesized by the entire systematic review team.
Results: Sixty-three published and unpublished manuscripts were included in this systematic review. Three synthesized findings emerged from the literature that can guide future decisions regarding testing as part of a continued professional competency/recertification assessment.
Conclusions: Testing, if used as part of a recertification process, should be used solely for the purposes of assessing knowledge; should be used to assess knowledge necessary for current practice unique to the individual test taker; and should reflect “real life” and should therefore allow the examinee access to materials and resources normally available in the provision of patient care.

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Descriptors: Assessment; Testing; Competency