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Meet Our Volunteers

Quick Links: Exam Construction Review Committees | Item Writers | Practice Exam Item Writers | Volunteer Opportunities

Subject matter experts (SMEs) who serve on BCEN exam committees represent various aspects of nursing practice and are well versed in the clinical topics and professional issues encompassed by each of our specialty certification programs. BCEN screens applicants to ensure geographic, demographic, and practice diversity, so that committee members and item writers reflect the population of nurses in each specialty practice area.

As a volunteer-based organization, BCEN is deeply grateful to our respected subject matter experts who volunteer their time so freely to help us create high-quality, robust, and up-to-date exams. All of our highly-accomplished experts maintain full-time careers in their specialty area and contribute noticeably to the industry.

6 Specialty Credentials

150+ Volunteer Nurses

32 States Represented

 

Exam Construction Review Committees (ECRCs)

BCEN’s Exam Construction Review Committees (ECRCs) are responsible for mentoring exam item writers, reviewing all new exam questions, reviewing and editing unscored pretest questions, reviewing scored questions, and reviewing the exam’s overall performance. ECRC members are selected for their knowledge, experience, content expertise, and strong skills in question development and must have previously served as an item writer. BCEN strives to ensure that the composition of its ECRCs reflects certification candidate populations in terms of geography, ethnicity, gender, and educational preparation.

ECRC members are trained in item review principles, bias and sensitivity issues, and basic statistical concepts as they relate to item performance. The committees meet once or twice a year to assemble exams and participate in BCEN’s item-writing workshops as mentors to item writers. ECRC members work directly with an assigned team of item writers to review all new items and provide detailed feedback on each assignment.

Meet our ECRC Members:

  • CEN ECRC

    Chairperson
    Roger Casey, MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN, FAEN (WA)

    Committee Members
    Clair Barnett, MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN, CPEN, CFRN (OR)
    Autumn Riddell, MSN, APRN, CEN, ACCNS-AG (VA)
    Steven Talbot, MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN (TX)
    Heather Swindle, MSN, RN, CEN (AL)

  • CFRN-CTRN ECRC

    Chairperson
    Nyssa Hattaway, RN, BA, BSN, CEN, CPEN, CFRN (GA)

    Committee Members
    Allen Wolfe Jr., MSN, CNS, APRN, CFRN, CCRN, CTRN, TCRN, CMTE, FAASTN (MN)
    Jennifer Williams, BScN, RN, CEN, CPEN, CFRN, CTRN, TCRN, NRP (MS)
    Jeanette Pascale, MSHI, BSN, CCRN, CEN, CPEN, CTRN, NPD-BC(NJ)
    Emma Hart, BSN RN CFRN CPEN C-NPT NRP (TX)

  • CPEN ECRC

    Chairperson
    Rebecca Steinmann, MS, APRN, CPEN, CEN, TCRN, CCRN, CCNS, FAEN (OH)

    Committee Members
    Sara Daykin, DNP, MSN, RN, CPEN, TCRN, CNEcl (NM)
    Tara Doherty, BSN, RN, CPEN, TCRN (NY)
    Katherine Walker, BSN, RN, CPEN (NC)
    Julie Ruddy, BS, RN, CEN, CPEN, TCRN (PA)

  • TCRN ECRC

    Chairperson
    Kelley Rumsey    , DNP, RN, TCRN, CEN, ACNP-BC, PNP-BC (VA)

    Committee Members
    Brody Eick, MBA, BSN, BS , RN, CEN, CCRN, TCRN,NE-BC (CA)
    Rebecca Geyer, MSN, RN, TCRN (OH)
    Michael Gibson, BSN, RN, TCRN, CEN, CFRN (CA)
    Amy Kempinski, MSN, RN, TCRN, CEN (PA)
    Heather Timmons, MSL, BSN, RN, CCRN, TCRN (OR)
    Andrea Light, MS, RN, EMT, CEN, TCRN (OH)

  • CBRN ECRC

    Chairperson
    Gretchen Carrougher    , MN, RN, CBRN (WA)

    Committee Members
    Kiera Earney, BSN, RN, CBRN, CCRN (CA)
    Purvi Patel, DNP, APN, FNP-C, CBRN (IL)
    Lois Remington, BSN, RN, CBRN (UT)
    Emily Werthman, PhD, RN, CBRN (MD)

 

Item Writers

BCEN’s item writers are key to the success of our exam programs. As experts in their respective fields and sub-specialty areas, our item writers are responsible for creating test questions for their assigned program. BCEN chooses new item writers for its programs at least every 2 years and screens applicants to ensure geographic, demographic, and practice diversity so that our item writers reflect the population of nurses in each specialty certification practice area. View BCEN’s policy on Item Writer Selection.

Meet our Item Writers:

  • CEN Item Writers

    Mistie Shoemaker, BSN, RN, CEN (AL)
    Jessica Nelson, BSN, RN, CEN, TCRN (AZ)
    Melissa Hopkins, MHA, BSN, RN, CEN, CCTC (FL)
    Jeremy Thomas, BSN, RN, CEN (GA)
    Sara Gears, MSN, RN, CEN (IL)
    Mark Catania, BSN, RN, CEN, TCRN (IL)
    Dorian Patterson, MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN (MS)
    Heidi Webber, MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN, CPEN, PCCN (MO)
    Lisa Lemanski, BSN, RN, CCRN, CEN (NJ)
    Jamie Hicks, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, CEN (NJ)
    Tricia Ball, BSN, RN, CEN (OH)
    Courtney Russ, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, CEN (OH)
    John McEntee, RN, CEN, TCRN (PA)
    Nicholas Bosiak, BSN, RN, CEN, CMSRN (TX)
    Jessica Davis, RN, CEN (WA)

  • CFRN-CTRN Item Writers

    Angela Atwood RN, MSN, CFRN (AZ)
    Alexandra Scerbak MSN RN CEN CFRN (AZ)
    Randall Hough RN, BSN, CEN, CCRN, CFRN, C-NPT (CA)
    Fred Marubayashi RN, CCRN, CFRN, CEN (CA)
    Lindsey Duff RN, BSN, CCRN, CFRN (CO)
    Katherine Leland RN, BSN, CFRN (CO)
    Austin Johnson BSN, RN, EMT-P, C-NPT, CBRN, CCRN, CEN, CFRN, CPEN, CTRN, TCRN (FL)
    Heather Woody MSN, RN, CEN, CFRN, CPEN (IN)
    Jennifer Landis MSN, RN, CFRN (MD)
    Brandi Maki RN, CFRN (MN)
    Stephanie Suzadail MSN MA RN PHRN CBRN CEN CFRN CPEN CTRN TCRN SANE (PA)
    Emily Roberts MSN, RN, APRN, ENP-C, FNP-BC, CEN, CFRN (TN)
    Frances Thomason MSN, ACNP-BC, FNP-BC, ENP-BC, RN, CFRN, CEN, NREMT (TN)
    Donald Beebe RN, CEN, CFRN (TX)
    Kristi Davis-Yarbrough BSN, RN, CEN, CFRN (TX)
    Troy White BSN, RN, CFRN, CCRN-CMC (VA)

  • CPEN Item Writers

    Kara Piganelli, MSN, RN, CPEN, TCRN, CCRN-P (CA)
    Heather Mons, MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, TCRN (CA)
    Judy Nguyen, MSN, RN, CPEN (CA)
    Christopher Fangmeier, MSN, MBA, RN, CEN, TCRN, CPEN (CO)
    Jaclyn Eineder, RN, CEN, CPEN (FL)
    Josephina Kik, BSN, RN, CPEN (MI)
    Antonio D’Amato, MS, RN, FNP-BC, CPEN, CME (NJ)
    Louise McEvoy, RN, MSN, CPEN (NY)
    Ivana Romero, MSN, RN, CPEN (OR)

  • TCRN Item Writers

    Keri Bryant, BSN, RN, CEN, TCRN (CA)
    Amy Waunch, MSN, RN, FNP, CEN, TCRN (GA)
    Wilson Pierce, DNP, RN, CNEcl, TCRN (IL)
    Justin Mis, BSN, RN, CCRN, TCRN (IN)
    Scott Isenberg, MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN (MI)
    Rebecca VanStanton, MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, TCRN (MI)
    Elyse Bates, BSN, RN, CEN, TCRN (MN)
    Michael Diekmann, BSN, RN, PHN, CCRN, TCRN, CEN, CPEN (MO)
    Andrea Hawk, BA, BSN, MAEd, RN, TCRN (NJ)
    Jennifer Gieger, BSN, RN, TCRN, CEN (NY)
    Melaina King, BSN, RN, CCRN, TCRN (OH)
    Elizabeth Naber, MSN, RN, CCRN, CNRN, TCRN (PA)
    Dawn Reitz, MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN (TX)
    Virginia Leigh Grosvenor, MSN, RN, CCRN, TCRN(TX)
    Michael FaJohn, BSN, RN, TCRN, AMB-BC (VA)
    Caitlin Litchfield, BSN, RN, TCRN (VA)

  • CBRN Item Writers

    Mary Thomas Capley, MSN, RN, CBRN (AL)
    Mark Romero, BSN, RN, CBRN (AZ)
    Megan Zynkian, BSN, RN, CBRN, CCRN (CA)
    Haley Jennings, BSN, RN (CO)
    Paul Plowman, BSN, RN, CBRN (IN)
    Patrick Brockway, MSN, RN (MS)
    Alison Hao-Smith, BSN, RN, CCRN (NY)
    Nancy Moeur, BSN, RN, CCRN, CBRN (NY)
    Carol Sacks, RN, CBRN, TCRN (NY)
    Mary Mondozzi, MSN, RN, WCC, CBRN (OH)
    Michele Buraczewski, MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN, CCRN-K (PA)
    Emily Snyder, MSN, RN, CBRN, CCRN (TX)
    Drew Schnebly, BSN, RN, CBRN (UT)
    Elisabeth Fletcher, BSN, RN, CCRN, CBRN (WI)

 

Practice Exam Item Writers

BCEN’s practice exam item writers are subject matter experts in their respective fields and sub-specialty areas who contribute to the development of BCEN’s practice exams. BCEN chooses new practice exam item writers for its programs at least every 2 years and screens applicants to ensure geographic, demographic, and practice diversity so that our practice exam item writers reflect the population of nurses in each specialty certification practice area.

To qualify to be a practice exam item writer, applicants must be a registered nurse, have a BSN (preferably), and hold a current certification in the program they are applying for. While no previous item writing experience is necessary, practice exam item writers are required to attend a two-day item-writing workshop to receive instruction in basic item-writing and item review principles, including bias and sensitivity training. After attending the workshop, practice exam item writers work closely with BCEN in the development and maintenance of practice exam questions.

Visit our BCEN Subject Matter Expert (SME) page to apply to be a BCEN Practice Exam Item Writer.

Meet our Practice Exam Item Writers:

  • CEN Practice Exam Item Writers

    Martha Roberts, MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN (CA)
    Troy Bennett, MSN-NE, RN, CEN (CO)
    Michael Zonak, MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, CNL (FL)
    Jana Kling, BSN, RN, CEN (LA)
    Sorayah Bourenane, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL (TX)
    Lindsay Davis, BSN, RN, CEN, TCRN (VA)

  • CFRN Practice Exam Item Writers

    Jonathan Baxter, BSN, RN, CEN, CFRN, TCRN (AR)
    Steve Cumming, RN, CFRN (CA)
    Jonah Pregulman, MSN, RN, CEN, CFRN, CPEN, CTRN, TCRN, EMT-P (NV)
    Caroline Levin, BSN, RN, CEN, CFRN (PA)
    Jason Vest, RN, CFRN, CTRN (WA)

  • CPEN Practice Exam Item Writers

    Merideth Gradowski, MSN, RN, CPEN, TCRN (AZ)
    Cynthia Joseph    , BSN, RN, CPEN (CO)
    Ronald Fay, RN, CEN, CPEN (KS)
    David Miller, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, CPEN, CPN, TNS (MO)
    Tommee Duran, RN, CPEN (NV)
    Justin Milici, MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, TCRN, CCRN, CPN (TX)

  • TCRN Practice Exam Item Writers

    Jessica Pemberton, MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN, CAISS, CSTR (CA)
    Pamela Vanderberg, MBA, MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN (GA)
    Amy Crisp, MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN (MI)
    Brady Bielewicz, DNP, CRNP, CNS, CCRN-CSC-CMC, TCRN, CNRN (PA)
    Ashley Metcalf, MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN (SC)
    Marisa Buchmann, MSN, RN, CPN, CCRN, TCRN, NPD-BC (TX)

  • CBRN Practice Exam Item Writers

    Amanda Fucci, BSN, RN, CBRN (AZ)
    Cheryl Barela, MSN, RN, CRN, CCRN (AZ)
    Deanna Ochoa, MSN, RN, CBRN, CCRN (CA)
    Sarah Bernardy, BSN, RN, CBRN, CCRN (CA)
    Sarah Mattison, MHA, BSN, CBRN RN (CA)
    Laura Madsen, BSN, RN, CBRN, CCRN (CO)
    Rebecca Garber, MSN-NP, RN, CBRN, FNP-BC (CO)
    Annemarie O’Connor, MSN-NP, RN, CBRN, FNP-BC (IL)
    Megan Cyrulik, MSN, RN, CBRN (IL)
    Natalie Fitzgerald, BSN, RN, CBRN (IN)
    Lisa Smith, MSN, RN, CBRN (MD)
    Shannon Walters, MSN, RN, TCRN, CBRN (MD)
    Eleanor Thibodeau, BSN, RN, CBRN (MN)
    Audrey Hoerner, MSN-NP, RN, CBRN (NY)
    Ann Brennan Cooper, MSN, RN, CBRN, CCRN (NY)
    Courtney Wright, MSN, RN, CTRS-C, CBRN (NC)
    Andrew Neading, BSN, RN, CBRN (OH)
    Kimberley Benzick, BSN, RN, CBRN (TX)
    Bailey Burge, DNP, RN, CBRN, CCRN (TX)
    Abby Ksobiech, BSN, RN, CBRN (WI)

 

Volunteer Opportunities

  • Become an Item Writer

    BCEN® item writers are key to the success of its exam programs. As experts in their respective fields, item writers are responsible for creating test questions for their assigned programs. Content experts who write items for BCEN exams represent various aspects of emergency, pediatric emergency, ground and flight transport, trauma, and burn nursing. BCEN strives to screen applicants to ensure geographic, demographic, and practice diversity. BCEN chooses new item writers for its programs at least every 2 years. No previous item-writing experience is necessary!

     

    Eligibility Requirements

    Criteria for participation as a BCEN item writer are as follows:

    • Current status as a registered nurse, BSN preferred
    • Holds a current certification in a BCEN Exam Program.
    • Actively employed in a clinical practice setting as an emergency nurse, pediatric emergency nurse, flight/transport nurse, trauma nurse, or burn nurse.
    View BCEN’s policy on Item Writer Selection.

     

    Item-Writing Workshop

    Item writers must attend a 2-day item-writing workshop to receive instruction in basic item-writing and item-reviewing principles, including bias and sensitivity training. The workshop includes both didactic and interactive activities in which item structure, the test blueprint, confidentiality, and security issues are presented and discussed. Exam Construction Review Committee (ECRC) members also participate in the workshop and serve as mentors to new writers.

     

    Assignments and Time Commitment

    Assignments are made twice a year and are based on areas of each program’s content outline. Item writers serve 2-year renewable terms and can expect to write about 20 items a year.

    Mentoring and Feedback
    Each item writer is part of an item-writing team and is assigned an ECRC mentor who reviews all newly written items. Items are reviewed for accuracy, critical content for the exam, bias and sensitivity issues, and correct classification to their respective content outline. Mentors provide detailed feedback to item writers after every assignment.

     

    How to Apply

    A call for item writers is published on BCEN’s website and in other communication vehicles at least six (6) months prior to the item writing workshop. Interested applicants who meet the eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply via BCEN’s SME management platform.  Those applicants who meet the initial criteria are asked to complete a sample item writing assignment, specific to their respective certification exam program.

    We value the time and expertise our item writers commit to our programs.

  • Become an Exam Construction Review Committee (ECRC) Member

    Item writers who consistently write high-quality items, meet deadlines, and respond to feedback may have the opportunity to serve on an ECRC as openings occur. ECRC members are responsible for mentoring item writers, reviewing new questions, and assembling exam forms for their respective programs. ECRC members are selected for their knowledge, experience, and content expertise, and strong skills in question development. As with item writer selection, BCEN strives to ensure that the composition of its ECRCs reflects candidate populations in terms of geography, ethnicity, gender, and educational preparation.

    If you’re interested in becoming an ECRC member, the first step is to volunteer as a BCEN item writer. Learn more about that process by clicking the dropdown above.

  • Become a BCEN Subject Matter Expert (SME)

    BCEN SMEs share their experience and insight with other nurses by helping us build quality, expert content that will be made available on BCEN Learn, our award-winning online continuing education platform, as well as in-person at BCEN Learn Live conferences.

    BCEN SMEs help develop:

    • Online courses
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars
    • Practice exams
    • In-person conference sessions
    • … and even more!

    Interested in sharing your unique skill set and know-how with an audience of nurses ready to learn? Visit our BCEN SME page to learn more or apply now!