Continuing Education for Nurses – Keeping Up With Requirements by State
Continuing Education for Nurses
Continuing education is crucial for RNs to remain up-to-date. Not only do they have to meet state and local requirements, they must also keep up with their licenses and specialty certifications. Earning CEs can boost your professional development. Choose your CE hours carefully and take advantage of the networking opportunities offered by other RNs. Continuing education is an important investment in the future of your nursing career, so don’t miss out on this opportunity.
There are many ways to earn CEUs as a nurse. Some employers will reimburse nurses for taking certain classes, while others will simply require that their employees keep up with the latest developments in the nursing field. Nursing CEUs are also available from academic sources. Nurses can obtain credits by participating in certain research activities and publishing in peer-reviewed journals. Many employers will pay for CEUs, and some will even host professional development courses in-house for nurses. Unionized nursing professionals are more likely to be reimbursed for their CE credits.
In addition to providing convenient learning opportunities, online nursing CE also offers cost-effective solutions. Nurses already juggle a heavy workload, long shifts, and understaffing. Taking time away from work to attend CE programs is simply not practical for many nurses. In addition, online courses offer a more relaxed setting, allowing them to do their work at their own pace and free of distractions.
Continuing Education for Nurses – Keeping Up With Requirements by State
Another way to earn CE credits is to attend an accredited course. For example, a course in advanced cardiac life support may be accepted in one state but isn’t in another. Check with your state board of nursing to determine whether a particular CE course is accepted for credit in your state. This way, you can make sure you’re up-to-date and providing the best care possible for your patients.
If you are a newly licensed nurse, you’ll often be exempt from CE requirements for the first renewal period. After that, you’ll have to meet CE requirements based on your home state. Some states don’t require any CE, while others require as much as 45 hours per renewal period. Some states require continuing education for new nurses every two years; others require a full 60 hours. As a nurse, your continuing education must be relevant to your practice.
To maintain your license in your state, you’ll need to complete CEUs on the topics you’re most likely to need for your job. You may also have to complete CE courses for other states. Many states require their nurses to complete a certain number of CEs to stay in good standing. For example, if you work in New York, you’ll need to take a course on child abuse. In Michigan, you’ll need one hour of education in Pain Management.