BCEN volunteers 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 BCEN certification
• 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 distributed via email to all BCEN account holders 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.

Eligibility Requirements

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

• Current status as a registered nurse, BSN preferred
• Holds a current BCEN certification in the program

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.

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, 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.

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 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!