Test Development

The blueprint for the Radiology Nursing Certification exam is determined from role delineation studies that are done periodically in order to ensure that the content is covering current practice. The latest Role Delineation Study was conducted in 2016. The results of the survey were administered, analyzed and interpreted with the assistance of the Center for Nursing Education and Training (C-NET).  The findings of the Role Delineation Study were reviewed by the RNCB in April 2016 to determine the Certified Radiology Nurse exam specifications with is the current test blueprint.

Role Delineation Study of Radiology Nursing

In 2013 the Association of Radiology and Imaging Nursing (ARIN), then known as the American Radiological Nurses Association (ARNA), in collaboration with the Radiologic Nursing Certification Board, Inc. appointed a Role Delineation Task Force. The task force was charged with developing a role delineation study of the practice of radiology nursing. The results of the survey was administered, analyzed and interpreted with the assistance of the Center for Nursing Education and Test, Inc. The findings of the role delineation study were reviewed by the RNCB in April 2016 to determine the Certified Radiology Nurse exam specifications. The Role Delineation study will be updated periodically to ensure that the exam specifications remain up to date.

Item Writing & Test Development

The RNCB holds an item writing session a minimum of every 2 years to develop new exam questions. Subject matter experts who work in various areas of the country and in various imaging settings are recruited to assist in item writing. The management company assists in identifying qualified nurses, nationally, who have experience in multiple imaging procedures and have the requisite knowledge, skill and ability to contribute to the test development. Certified Radiology Nurses who meet the criteria are invited to join the committee.

The RNCB determines the content of each certification examination through an ongoing process of evaluation. The Board relies on subject matter experts for test development and validation. The subject matter experts must be in current practice as a radiology nurse and hold the CRN® credential. Additionally, subject matter experts will be selected keeping in mind the various components of the test content outline in order to ensure that a broad representation of the profession is maintained with regard to number of years as a CRN®, geographic diversity, and length of time in the profession. Subject matter experts provide updated items for the item bank based on current practices in radiology nursing and assist in review and editing of submitted items. Periodically the Board schedules a formal item review of exam questions, and a committee of subject matter experts is convened. The Chair of the Test Development Committee participates in the review sessions.

All subject matter experts who participate in item writing and item review activities sign a conflict of interest statement to ensure the integrity of the examination.

The Board works with the Center for Nursing Education and Training (C-NET), 35 Journal Square, Suite 901, Jersey City, NJ 07306 for its examination development.

C-NET, relying on the test content outline and weighting, assembles a draft of each form of the examination, taking into consideration the history of each item’s use, past statistics, equivalency to past forms of the examination, and the comments of previous candidates to specific items. The examination, as a whole, individual items, and testing materials are reviewed annually for accuracy, relevancy, bias, sensitivity and validity by the RNCB.

Retention Of Records

The testing company keeps hard copy exam booklets for 6 months and original answer sheets for a minimum of 2 years. After these times the exam booklets and answer sheets are shredded by a professional, bonded shredding company. Computer records of exam performance are maintained indefinitely using offsite back up. The Radiologic Nursing Certification Board, Inc. shall retain copies of certification/re-certification applications for a minimum of 4 years.