CEUs for Nurses – Keeping Up With Requirements by State
CEUs for Nurses
Many nurses wait until the last minute to take courses in their specialty to fulfill their CE requirement. However, a nurse should be aware that their state’s board of nursing expects them to keep up-to-date on the most recent technologies and therapies. By taking CEs, nurses can maintain their licensure. Fortunately, many hospitals, unions, and healthcare systems now pay for their employees’ continuing education. But the question remains, how do you keep up with the requirements of your state?
Some states require their nurses to take specific CE courses, while others simply require that they take a certain number of hours of courses on a specific topic. If you are working in New York, you must complete an Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse course and an Infection Control course. In Michigan, you must complete one hour of Pain Management education. Other states may have similar requirements, but are different in their exact details. You should check the requirements of your state’s board of nursing to see what is required.
Continuing education is mandatory for nurses in most states. These CEU courses are designed to improve a nurse’s knowledge and skills. Some courses can count toward CEU requirements, including lessons from an accredited college. Depending on your state’s CEU requirements, you can often find free or low-cost online nursing CEU courses. Whether you are looking for free Nurse CEUs or courses that qualify for an Associate’s degree or doctorate, a CEU course can improve your career.
CEUs for Nurses – Keeping Up With Requirements by State
Continuing education is a requirement for all registered nurses. For newly licensed nurses, CE requirements are waived. For renewals, however, the new requirements vary from state to state. The number of hours required for licensure renewal varies widely, from zero to 45. In addition, licensing renewal periods vary from annual to triennial. Margaret, for example, moved from Colorado to California. Where she was previously licensed in Colorado, there were no CE requirements. In California, she is required to complete 30 contact hours every two years.
The Compact defines the primary state of residence of a nurse. For legal purposes, a nurse’s primary residence is their home state, which is where they pay taxes and vote. Thus, a nurse based in Iowa must fulfill the CE requirements of her primary state. However, it is important to note that a nurse’s knowledge should be supplemented by CE, not replace it. This is where the NLC can come in handy.
New Mexico’s board of nursing requires licensees and certificate holders to take continuing education courses. This helps ensure the safety of New Mexican citizens and the competency of their area of practice. To simplify the process of auditing, the Board of Nursing partnered with the CE Broker. Starting July 1, all licensees will have to upload proof of continuing education to their CE broker account. This means more time for them to focus on the practice of nursing rather than managing their license.