[sls0703]

For your reference:

http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/dat...37-17/743.html

[NRSKarenRN]

Posted Saturday, April 28, 2007 in PA Bulletin, takes effect in 30 days.

Nurses will be placed into 4 renewal periods: April or October of even or odd # years. Will document courses attended as part of license renewal. TWO YEARS given for full implimentation. ONELINE license renewal encouraged.

Also removes requirement that employer maintain license certificate.

The Board proposes to add a section setting forth the general requirements regarding continuing education. Subsection (a) sets forth the statutory requirement that a professional nurse complete 30 hours of continuing education approved by the Board during each biennium. This requirement will begin with the first renewal that allows each of the four license renewal groups at least 2 years to comply. For example, if the final-form rulemaking is effective by the end of 2007, licensees who renew in April of even-numbered years would have to complete 30 hours of continuing education for the first time between May 2008 and April 2010, and would need to verify completion of the required hours on their renewal application in 2010. Licensees who renew in October of even-numbered years would have to complete their required hours for the first time between November 2008 and October 2010; those in April of odd-numbered years would be required to complete the required hours for the first time between May 2009 and April 2011; and those in October of odd-numbered years would commence compliance between November 2009 and October 2011.

21.134. Continuing education sources.</B>
(a) The following providers of continuing education and credentialing organizations for professional nurses are approved:
(1) Board-approved professional nursing or CRNP education programs.
(2) Accredited professional nursing, CRNP, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Clinical Nurse Specialist and Nurse Midwifery education programs.
(3) Programs sponsored by accredited hospitals and health care facilities.
(4) Programs sponsored by hospitals and health care facilities licensed by the Department of Health.
(5) Programs sponsored by regionally-accredited institutions of higher education offering courses that comply with § 21.133 (relating to continuing education content).
(6) National nursing, medical and osteopathic organizations and their state and regional affiliates.
(7) National pharmaceutical organizations and their state and regional affiliates.

Distance learning continuing education is acceptable for completion of all 30 continuing education hours required for license renewal

[MLOS]

Does anyone have any further information?

There still hasn't been much concrete, specific information from the BON. For example, 2 hospitals in my area - 1 is under the impression that programs put on by the hospital (cardiac arrhythmia class for new hires, etc.) will count, the other is saying that it will not count. Hospital #1 has contracted with an online provider to allow RNs to log in and complete online course topics that will supposedly fulfill the requirements. But how do I know that this is an approved provider? Will the BON issue a list?

Another example: I have attended seminars put together by PESI in the past. I get brochures in the mail from them every week. Is PESI an approved provider? How can I find this out?

Is there any stipulation on the content of CEUs, such as there is in Ohio (some certain number of hours must be on legal issues, etc.)?

Any help is appreciated ...

[NRSKarenRN]

For example, 2 hospitals in my area - 1 is under the impression that programs put on by the hospital (cardiac arrhythmia class for new hires, etc.) will count

Courses provided by Hospitals licensed by PA state health dept would be covered under :
(4) Programs sponsored by hospitals and health care facilities licensed by the Department of Health.

Hospital #1 has contracted with an online provider to allow RNs to log in and complete online course topics that will supposedly fulfill the requirements

Many online providers are approved by state nurses association or
ANA's national accreditation division: American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation (ANCC).
These providers would be approved under:
(6)National nursing, medical and osteopathic organizations and their state and regional affiliates.

One can check state nursing association website for approved providers list
PA.: Approved CE Providers
PA has been a leader in approving CE programs with many facilities listed.
DE: http://denurses.org/continuing_education.php
NJ: http://www.njsna.org/displaycommon.c...articlenbr=114

National:
ANCC: http://www.nursecredentialing.org/ac...archaccred.cfm


Look for statements like these:

ANCC accreditation:
Nursing Spectrum Division of Continuing Education is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

State Nurses Assoc:
Nurses: PESI, LLC, Eau Claire is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Wisconsin Nurses Association Continuing Education Approval Program Committee, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

There will eventually be a list of state approved programs...since SBON website listings rarely upgraded, don't expect to see list till 2009 online.

Is there any stipulation on the content of CEUs

not at this time.

[MLOS]

http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa/lib/...d/faq_rnce.pdf

No new information here, other than there is still no implementation date ...

NRSKaren or anyone else ... any thoughts on why this implementation is taking so long? Just the slow wheels of beauracracy, or are there "issues" still being worked out among stakeholders? Just curious ...

[NRSKarenRN]

Just the slow wheels of bureaucracy

Delay suspected due to admin needing time to

a. Establish policy and procedure (P+P) based on fact-finding best practices how other boards with mandatory CE developed program
b. Revise existing P+P on approving CE programs
(minimally done in past as not requirement; accreditation handled through Professional org eg PA Nurses Assoc)
c. Enforcement P+P and how encourage compliance----what vehicle to get the word out about regulation
d. Updating computer system to handle file volume and obtaining software package vs developing software program to meet state's needs
e.? hiring additional staff person, realigning job responsibilities, staff retraining
g. Funding required to enforce law .....