Should Continuing Education for Nurses be mandatory in all states?

I was surprised when I learned that nurses were not required to complete continuing education requirements in order to stay licensed. As a medic I was required to complete mandtory hours of continuing ed in order to keep my certification, it would only seem logical that nurses have the same requirement. Without continuing ed, how do our nurses keep up to date, and how do healthcare facilities ensure that the nurses they are hiring are accurately trained and current with new procedures, policies, meds, etc.....?

I hope you re-think letting the certification go-
try the on-line ceu's- like with MedScape.

It should never be manadated as there is too much big business out there to make money off it. Professional responsibility yes, but the concept of MANDATORY gives me the shivers.

Just to be controversial...how about mandated recertification every x-number of years (i.e. retaking an nclex-type exam)?

So, a question for you: YOU are an ICU patient and you have the choice of choosing your nurse.Choose your nurse: no other factors consider except the ones described here:

Nurse #1: Has kept up on Continuing Education in the ICU field he/she has 30 continuing education hours plus an excellent work and performance record. He/she serves as a mentor for new nurses.

Nurse #2. Has NOT kept up on his/her Continuing Education in his/her field; he/she does have continuing education in other areas of nursing. He/she is consider a "good nurse: and has an excellent work and performance record. He/she seems to have lots of experience.

Nurse #3. Is a nurse from a temp agency---her past work performance is not known, but you do know she has NO continuing education in the ICU area.

WHICH nurse would YOU want to care for you?
nurse430+yrs