Evaluation of Testing as a Method to Assess Continued Competency in Nurse Anesthesia Practice: A Systematic Review.

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 topic of focus in recent years. A systematic review was conducted to evaluate testing as a method of assessing continued competency in nurse anesthesia practice. Using the Joanna Briggs Institute method for a comprehensive systematic review, a literature search followed by critical appraisal of included manuscripts was performed. Sixty-three published and unpublished manuscripts were included in this systematic review. Testing should be used solely for the purpose of assessing knowledge necessary for current practice unique to the individual test taker. Testing should reflect real life and should allow the test taker access to materials and resources normally available in the provision of patient care.