Improving certified registered nurse anesthetists' preparedness and intention to serve on boards.

Abstract Background: The project was driven by expressed interest in serving on boards by 171 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), expressed lack of preparation, and nurses on boards (NOB) literature recommendations to improve preparation through professional development. Purpose: To implement a NOB preparation microlearning program for CRNAs who desire to serve on boards but feel unprepared to do so, improve CRNA participants' preparedness and intention to serve on boards, evaluate application of NOB learning, and offer continuing education credit. Methods: A pre-test/post-test design was used to evaluate preparedness (Sundean Healthcare Index for Preparation in Board Competency [SHIP-BC©]; Sundean, 2017), intention to serve on boards (CPD Reaction Questionnaire©; Légaré et al., 2014), and program effectiveness (learner assessment program evaluation; American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology [AANA], n.d.). Intervention: Nurses on Boards Preparation Microlearning Program for CRNAs Results: Paired samples t-tests for program completers (n = 17) mean scores showed no significant improvement in preparation, and significant improvement in only the Social Influence construct of intention to serve on boards t(16) = 2.41, p = .01. However, the Social Influence subscale did not demonstrate internal consistency in this sample (Cronbach's alpha = 0.33), so cannot be deemed reliable in measuring changes. Program effectiveness and modules quality were rated as good or excellent by all respondents. Discussion: Because the sample was small and most participants had high pre-test scores, it was not possible to demonstrate a significant impact of the educational intervention. This on-demand program will continue to be available to interested CRNAs.