How Do CEUs Work For Nurses?
CEUs Work For Nurses
Nurses in different states have different requirements for continuing education credits, also called CEUs. In New York, for example, nurses must complete courses on Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse (IRCA) and Infection Control. In Michigan, nurses must complete at least one hour of Pain Management education. In order to maintain their license, nurses must earn CEUs within a renewal period.
To meet CE requirements, all RNs must select continuing competency activities that meet the requirements in Chapter 216 of the Board of Nursing rules. Then, each nurse must keep a record of their attendance at all CE activities. These records must be kept for at least three consecutive licensing cycles and six years. However, for the Forensic Evidence Collection targeted CNE requirement, RNs must keep the record indefinitely.
The organization that provides CEUs must be accredited by an accrediting body. The requirements vary by state, but the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) is considered the gold standard for continuing nursing education. Nursing CEU courses accredited by the ANCC are accepted by state boards and can increase a nurse’s earning potential and increase her or his chances of promotion.
Large hospitals that employ unionized nurses may offer free CEUs for their employees. Alternatively, independent nurses can find online CE courses at the convenience of their own home. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing CEUs offers a directory of nationally accredited CE providers. It’s important to find a CEU provider that meets the needs of the nursing community.
How Do CEUs Work For Nurses?
To obtain CE credits, nurses must complete a minimum of 18 hours of continuing education annually. Most nursing boards require continuing education for registered nurses, so ANCC-approved courses will increase their earning potential and ensure the best possible care for patients. Many nurses have a busy schedule, and it can be difficult to complete CE requirements every year. Fortunately, these requirements are manageable for working nurses.
Continuing education units are also called contact hours. These units represent 50 or 60 minutes of instruction. Usually, one CEU is equal to ten contact hours. The only exception is if you have completed all your required CE during the renewal period prior to your license expiration date. Otherwise, the additional hours cannot be applied to any future renewal period. Additionally, you can’t count CEUs that you earned before you received your permanent license.
For RNs, CE hours are required for license renewal. This means that nurses must complete at least 24 hours of CE per year. Some of these hours must be related to pharmacology and clinical management. If the courses you take satisfy these requirements, they will count toward your total CEU requirements.
Continuing education is important for nurses in several ways. Taking a course or attending a seminar is a great way to update your knowledge and improve your skills, and many programs are now available online. Continuing education also allows new nurses to fill in the gaps that they may have missed before.
