Northwest Practical Nursing Faculty Pass (CNEpv) Exam
Senatobia, MS (03/12/2026) — Northwest Mississippi Community College's practical nursing faculty recently passed the inaugural Certified Nurse Educator for Practical and Vocational Nursing Educators (CNEpv) exam that was introduced to them in November by Mississippi Board of Nursing member and former Northwest faculty member Lacey Gentry.
Earning the certification were Betty Ginn, MSN-RN, CNEpv of Tylertown, Paula Geeter, MSN-RN, CNEcl, CNEpv of Memphis, and Jessica Barham, BSN-RN, SCRN, CNEpv of Senatobia.
"This exam provides practical nursing instructors with a professional pathway to national certification as well as a wealth of new research regarding student engagement, retention, and post-graduation success," said Barham. "These are specific to practical nursing students, which allows us to integrate these ideas into our program."
Ginn said she was approached by Gentry, who contacted her about the certification exam. Ginn explained the credential is important for a variety of reasons, but it's another credential that showcases and validates her knowledge.
"It made me feel elated because it shows others I am an expert in my field," said Ginn.
The CNEpv credential is a voluntary national credential for educators and serves as the newest certification in the NLN's academic nurse educational certification that helps certify the NLN's academic nurse educator certification portfolio. It's meant to be a practical and vocational nursing program (PN/VN).
"NLN provided a testing handbook with several practice questions and a blueprint of exam topics," said Barham. "I used this, along with a review course for the CNE, to prepare to take the pilot exam. I studied for around a month prior to taking the exam in December."
The goal is to recognize expertise in practical and vocational nursing education, strengthen use of core competencies, support professional development and validate excellence in educational specialty.
Preparation for the exam took these instructors through practical analysis and standard-setting studies that defined essential knowledge and performance criteria.
In 2025, CNEpv began developing a practice analysis identifying what is important for role-specific competencies and tasks. In early 2026, the NLN officially established the certification and launched the exam for eligible candidates.
"I feel the CNEpv exam is important to me because it demonstrates my expertise as an academic nurse educator," said Geeter. "Also, it validates the skills and knowledge necessary for effective teaching and curriculum development in nursing education. Enhancing my professional credibility, the CNEpv contributes to the advancement of practical nursing education."
All three faculty members who passed are also pursuing their education further, with Ginn and Geeter pursuing doctoral degrees and Barham pursuing a master's degree.
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Northwest Faculty Jessica Barham, director of Practical Nursing Betty Ginn, and Practical Nursing instructor Paula Geeter. Photo by Sarah Smith
Northwest Mississippi Community College
Andrew Dale, Associate Vice President of Community Relations, adale@northwestms.eduShare this Story
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