Competency Statements

Scroll down the page to find the competency statements for your certification specialty.

Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner

Obtain a general health history, perform a general screening physical examination, and obtain and/or interpret appropriate diagnostic procedures and laboratory tests.
Initiate pharmacologic therapy as appropriate or per protocol to manage general health, gynecologic and obstetric health needs of women throughout their life cycle.
Provide general health supervision, health maintenance, education and counseling to women during the life cycle.
Differentiate common non-gynecologic medical problems from normal and provide management, education or referral when appropriate.
Obtain a gynecologic history; perform a gynecologic examination and obtain and/or interpret diagnostic studies and laboratory tests relevant to gynecology.
Identify gynecologic deviations from normal, formulate a diagnosis by collaboration as necessary and provide education and management or refer as necessary.
Provide management and education for women and men in need of family planning and fertility control.
Obtain an obstetric history, perform a prenatal examination, and obtain and/or interpret appropriate diagnostic procedures and laboratory tests relevant to obstetrics.
Provide comprehensive prenatal and postpartum management and education for women with low risk pregnancies.
Screen for high risk pregnancies, pregnancy complications and postpartum complications; identify deviations from normal; and refer or collaborate as appropriate on prenatal and postpartum education and management.
Interpret scientific studies based on knowledge of basic research principles.
Delineate ethical, legal and professional issues inherent in providing care to women throughout the life cycle.

Inpatient Obstetric Nursing

Demonstrate knowledge of biological, physiological, psychological, and sociocultural factors that influence the pregnant family, developing fetus, and newborn.
Identify alterations in the biological, physiological, psychological and sociocultural status of the mother, fetus and newborn.
Identify patient’s actual or potential problems/needs utilizing information received from the patient, the family, appropriate records and other health team members.
develop a comprehensive plan for individualized nursing care, including diagnostic, therapeutic and patient educational components.
Evaluate interventions and modify the plan of care.
Apply current standards of practice, research findings and ethical/legal principles in providing nursing care to the normal and high risk antepartal, intrapartal and postpartal family.

Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing

Identify antepartal and intrapartal indicators of neonatal risk and their potential significance.
Systematically assess all body systems utilizing physical examination, gestational age assessment and neurobehavioral assessment.
Apply knowledge of anatomy and physiology (maternal, fetal, transitional, newborn), pathophysiology, pharmacology, nutrition, and behavioral psychology to assess the neonate and differentiate abnormal from normal.
Recognize normal values and deviations in clinical laboratory and diagnostic data and identify potential significance.
Utilize biophysical monitoring techniques to identify body system alterations.
Assess the neonate's family, community and environment to identify areas of risk.
Develop an individualized plan of care for the restoration, maintenance and promotion of health for the high risk neonate and family unit during hospitalization and following discharge.
Implement diagnostic, therapeutic and educational plans in collaboration with other health care providers to provide direct care for the high risk neonate and family.
Identify life-threatening states and initiate appropriate interventions.
Evaluate the plan of care in collaboration with other health care providers and the family and modify the plan of care as indicated.
Identify professional nursing issues which impact on the role of the neonatal nurse.

Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

Demonstrate the knowledge inherent in the role and function of the RN in neonatal intensive care nursing.
Apply knowledge of basic sciences to the provision of neonatal health care.
Obtain and interpret a comprehensive perinatal history and a systematic assessment of all body systems
Obtain clinical laboratory information and interpret the resultant data.
Institute appropriate diagnostic procedures and techniques and interpret the resultant data.
Evaluate the benefits and risks of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
Formulate a diagnosis and a plan of care in collaboration with physicians and other health care professionals.
Initiate appropriate therapeutic and educational interventions including consultations and referrals.
Evaluate and document responses to interventions and modify the plan of care as indicated.
Apply knowledge of basic research principles to practice.
Use adult learning principles when teaching about the care, growth and development of the high risk infant up to one year of age.
Maintain current knowledge regarding advances in neonatal health care.
Integrate legal and ethical principles into neonatal health care.

Low Risk Neonatal Nursing

Demonstrate knowledge of maternal, fetal, and neonatal anatomy, physiology, pharmacology and nutrition
Demonstrate knowledge of factors that influence the integration of the neonate into the family and community
Demonstrate knowledge of general concepts of well baby care and of concepts that determine and promote the health of the postpartal family
Identify antepartal, intrapartal and postpartal risk factors related to the mother, fetus and neonate
Systematically assess the neonate, the family and their environment
Interpret assessment data to determine health status of the mother, fetus and neonate
Develop, implement and evaluate an individualized plan of care to facilitate the neonate’s adaptation to extrauterine life and to promote the health of the neonate
Apply knowledge of general concepts of care that determine and promote the health of the postpartal family in the hospital, in ambulatory settings and in the home environment
Educate families about the biophysical, psychosocial and environmental needs of the neonate
Demonstrate knowledge of professional issues relative to maternal/neonatal nursing

Maternal Newborn Nursing

Demonstrate knowledge of physiological, psychological and sociocultural factors that affect the childbearing family with emphasis on the postpartal/neonatal period (birth to six weeks)
Recognize antepartal and intrapartal factors affecting the family in the postpartal/neonatal period
Assess the physical status of the mother and neonate
Assess the psychological and sociocultural status of the childbearing family
Analyze data to identify nursing and educational needs of the childbearing family
Develop and implement an individualized plan for the childbearing family
Evaluate outcomes and modify the plan as necessary
Incorporate knowledge of current standards of practice, research and professional issues into the nursing management of the childbearing family

Reproductive Endocrinology/Infertility Nursing

Demonstrate knowledge of normal reproductive endocrinology and physiology of the male and female.
Recognize the comprehensive nature of the health history, including reproductive, psychosocial, sexual, family, life-style aspects, and integrate the information obtained into patient care
Recognize deviations in clinical, laboratory, and diagnostic data and identify their potential significance.
Participate in the development, implementation and evaluation of comprehensive individualized care including diagnosis, therapy, education and referral
Counsel individuals regarding the benefits and risks of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
Facilitate psychosocial adjustment by utilizing principles of stress management, decision making and appropriate referral.
Serve as a patient advocate through counseling and education
Recognize the knowledge of the moral, legal and ethical issues that affect the practice of the reproductive endocrinology/infertility nurse
Demonstrate knowledge of basic principles of research

High Risk Obstetric Nursing

apply knowledge of anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology of pregnancy to the care of the high risk patient
identify and interpret the significance of factors predictive of compromised reproductive outcome
interpret data obtained from a comprehensive maternal assessment to differentiate between normal and abnormal
interpret data obtained from fetal assessment to differentiate between normal and abnormal
develop a comprehensive plan of care for the management of the high risk obstetric patient and family through the antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum periods
evaluate and modify the plan of care for the high risk obstetric patient
apply knowledge of psychosocial principles as they relate to the high risk obstetric nursing practice
integrate ethical principles into high risk obstetric nursing practice
apply knowledge of research principles as they relate to high risk obstetric nursing practice

Ambulatory Women’s Health Care Nursing

Demonstrate knowledge of biological, physiological, psychological and sociological factors that affect women in the context of their family and community.
Obtain a general health history and health assessment with emphasis on OB/GYN including diagnostic procedures and laboratory tests.
Recognize physiological deviations and identify their potential significance.
Incorporate the knowledge of psychological/sociocultural status of women into the plan of care.
Identify women's actual or potential health problems/needs, based on information received from the woman, the family, appropriate records and members of the health care team.
Provide general health supervision, health maintenance, education and counseling to women during the life cycle.
Assist women in decision-making, stress management and psychosocial adjustment.
Recognize ethical and legal issues inherent in providing care for women throughout the life cycle.
Demonstrate knowledge of basic research terms.

Telephone Nursing Practice

Use decision support tools such as protocols, algorithms, or guidelines to systematically assess and address caller needs.
Use assessment skills to identify actual or potential health, safety and educational needs.
Prioritize the urgency of caller needs utilizing critical thinking skills.
Develop a collaborative plan of care with the caller, their support systems and their providers.
Evaluate outcomes of care and modify care plan accordingly.
Recognize and apply the essential elements of documentation as a communication tool and legal record.
Incorporate knowledge of ethical/legal issues and professional nursing standards necessary for providing patient care and information.
Demonstrate goal directed communication including effective listening, counseling and negotiation skills.
Apply clinical knowledge of primary health in prevention and wellness, health risk assessment, disease management, and self care.
Identify and utilize appropriate internal and external resources.
Utilize research findings, legal trends, and clinical outcomes to improve practice.