Volunteer

Please email MSNCB@msncb.org with questions about volunteer opportunities. 

Call for 2027 Board of Directors Nominations

The MSNCB Nominating Committee is issuing a Call for Volunteers to be considered for the national Board of Directors for the year 2027.

As a national volunteer leader serving on the Board of Directors of MSNCB, you can be part of the leadership that validates excellence in medical-surgical nursing. MSNCB empowers registered nurses to develop leadership skills and is committed to relevance, accessibility, fairness, and innovation.

The Nominating Committee is seeking nominations for the following:

 

  • 2 Directors
  • 1 Emerging Professional

 

Emerging Professional Criteria

  • Must be willing to obtain CMSRN or CAVRN credential within one year of serving on the Board
  • A minimum of one year and maximum of three years of experience as a registered nurse at the time of appointment and must work at least 50% at the direct care or front line in the specialty of medical-surgical nursing

Minimum Volunteer Qualifications

  • Certified with a CMSRN or CAVRN
  • Experience in a volunteer position with a not-for-profit organization (e.g., committee, task force, team) and contributed in a positive way to the completion and outcome of the work
  • Ability and willingness to commit the necessary time to both preparation and travel for projects and meetings related to MSNCB activities.

If you are interested and meet the above minimum qualifications, please complete your board application and upload your CV through our volunteer application platform by June 15.

Apply Today

Volunteer Commitment

Board Director terms are for a period of three years, with the ability to be re-elected for an additional three-year term, for a total of six years. The Emerging Professional role is a two year term with no option for renewal. Expect to spend approximately 3-5 hours per month on average for key board responsibilities. The term for this call starts January 1, 2027.

Next Steps

  1. Complete and submit the board application by June 15, 2026, to be reviewed by the Nominating Committee.
  2. Board selection will be completed by the end of September, and all applicants will be notified of their candidacy status. 

CAVRN Volunteer Opportunities

Item Writing Committee

Join the Item Writing Committee and help shape the future of the CAVRN exam. After completing a two-hour mandatory training session, volunteers participate in item writing campaigns over several weeks. Using principles of effective item writing, committee members draft 10–20 exam questions based on their expertise and provided reference materials. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the certification process and ensure the exam reflects current best practices in the field.

Item Review Committee

The Item Review Committee plays a critical role in maintaining the quality and integrity of the CAVRN exam. After a two-hour mandatory training session, volunteers participate in 1–3 review sessions (3–4 hours each) to evaluate newly created exam questions, ensuring they meet established item writing standards. Committee members also review existing item bank content to confirm its relevance and validity. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute your expertise and help uphold the rigor of the certification process.

Test Development Committee

The Test Development Committee reviews and approves the CAVRN exam in its entirety, ensuring alignment with the exam blueprint and that no items inadvertently reveal answers to others. After exam data is collected, the committee validates item performance to confirm each question is appropriately challenging, clear, and fair. Volunteers typically participate in 2–4 review sessions, each lasting 3–4 hours.

Requirements: 

  • Must be a CAVRN in good standing
  • Committee members serve a three-year term
  • Cannot be involved in the creation or instruction of CAVRN exam preparation materials
  • All volunteers are required to sign a Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Agreement

Apply Today

Review Volunteer Information

CMSRN Volunteer Opportunities

Item Writing Committee

Join the Item Writing Committee and help shape the future of the CMSRN exam. After completing a two-hour mandatory training session, volunteers participate in item writing campaigns over several weeks. Using principles of effective item writing, committee members draft 10–20 exam questions based on their expertise and provided reference materials. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the certification process and ensure the exam reflects current best practices in the field.

Item Review Committee

The Item Review Committee plays a critical role in maintaining the quality and integrity of the CMSRN exam. After a two-hour mandatory training session, volunteers participate in 1–3 review sessions (3–4 hours each) to evaluate newly created exam questions, ensuring they meet established item writing standards. Committee members also review existing item bank content to confirm its relevance and validity. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute your expertise and help uphold the rigor of the certification process.

Recertification Committee

Members of the Recertification Committee help ensure that CMSRNs maintain their certification by auditing contact hours submitted with recertification applications. Following a two-hour training session, volunteers are assigned 1–3 applications per month, with each audit to be completed within five days. Experienced mentors support new auditors, guiding them through their first assignments. This committee offers a meaningful way to contribute to the ongoing excellence and professional standards of the CMSRN community.

Requirements: 

  • Must be a CMSRN in good standing
  • Committee members serve a three-year term
  • Cannot be involved in the creation or instruction of CMSRN exam preparation materials
  • All volunteers are required to sign a Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Agreement

Board of Directors

Participating on the board of directors can be a rewarding experience, both professionally and personally. Requirements include a variety of skills and knowledge about MSNCB, medical-surgical nursing, and resource management. Candidates interested in serving on the MSNCB Board are self-nominated. MSNCB certificants in good standing who meet the eligibility requirements may apply.

CMSRN and CAVRN Item Writers and Reviewers

Members of the Item Writing Committee develop new exam items for MSNCB certification exams following the Item Writing Style Guide and using references provided by MSNCB. This group receives item writing training from our test development partner.

Members of the Item Review Committees review examination items and make necessary revisions following the Item Writing Style Guide and using references provided by MSNCB. This group receives item writing and reviewing training from our test development partner.

CMSRN and CAVRN Test Development Committee

Members of the Test Development Committee review test forms before they are published and monitor the performance of item and form statistics. The Test Development Committee works closely with our test development partner to ensure that exam content is balanced and relevant.

CMSRN Recertification Committee

Members of the Recertification Committee review recertification applications that are randomly selected for audit. Auditors typically review 1–4 applications monthly, subject to fluctuation based on the volume of recertifications and the availability of committee members.