International Society
of Nurses in Genetics

Following ANCC’s decision to terminate the portfolio program, ISONG initiated a call for action and asked for volunteers to collaborate. You can reference this page for monthly updates from ISONG Following is a timeline of the worgroup goals and activities: 

August 2018 Announcement for ISONG Certification Update

1. ISONG Certification Task Force met for a two day conference in Pittsburgh, PA on August 20-21, 2018 in order to finalize recommendations to the ISONG Board of Directors.
2. ANCC continues to provide only renewal certification for both AGN-BC and GCN credentials and retain the trademarks for those credentials
3. Recommendations were made to the Board concerning the following:
   a. Name of new entity and new Board of Directors to oversee Certification and Credentials
   b. Names of credentials - at this time, the recommendation is to continue graduate level credential and bachelors’ level credentials. Once these are in place, an additional credential focusing on education and research will be discussed further.
   c. Criteria for each credential
   d. Fees and length of time for credentials
   e. Electronic portfolio platforms were reviewed for needs for genetics credential and evaluation continues outside of the meeting.
   f. New Board will be named by the ISONG Board to lead the new entity and be in place by October ISONG Congress
   g. Communications with membership was discussed.

Task Force Recommendations will be discussed at next ISONG Board of Directors meeting in September.

Submitted by Alice Kerber, MN, APRN, ACNS-BC, AOCN, AGN-BC
akerber@outlook.com
Certification Task Force Leader

March 15, 2018 Credentialing Transition Workgroup report:

•  A transition team has been formed  from those who expressed interest at the 2017 Congress   with four subgroups:
  a.       Credentialing standards
  b.      E-portfolios
  c.       GCN criteria
  d.      AGN/APNG criteria
  
  
• Jeanine Santelli will serve as Executive Director; Alice Kerber as the Task Force ISONG Liaison
  
• Monthly meetings to achieve rapid progress toward goal
  
• Estimated Timeline for  establishing new credential – Fall 2018
  

April 26, 2018 Credentialing Transition Workgroup report:

• APNG group is continuing fact finding related to renewals/transition pathway, expanding credential to allow researchers, educators, international members
• GCN group has reviewed the criteria and considering needs assessment to determine interest in this level credential
•  E-portfolio group is evaluating costs of systems/platforms and impact related to extent of credential
• Credentialing group has reviewed accreditation standards and is planning to send member to specific conference about criteria for implementing a certification program

In general…

Portfolio is the planned mechanism for credentialing in order to meet needs of the diversity of practice and specialties. Testing is not currently an option.

Preference is to design a new entity to oversee credentialing and not align with a specialty organization.

Criteria for credentialing will be based on Scope and Standards of Genetics/Genomics Nursing Practice and Core Competencies for genetics nursing similar to those previously designed by GNCC and ANCC.

Expect monthly updates on the ISONG website on this page

If you have any questions or concerns or want to get more involved, please contact akerber@outlook.com