ACLS and PALS as CME for license renewal?

[debert21]

My name is Scott, ortho RN for 2 years. This is my first post, but have followed this board for years.

I'm a second year PA student and would like to keep my RN license for various reasons. Apparently the SC board of nursing doesn't recognize PA school as continuing education, even though they do for NP.

I need 30 hours of CME credit hours by April 15 for renewal. I've heard that they will recognize ACLS and PALS certification as CME hours, but I was curious if anyone has done this and knows how many hours they will award me for completion of each.

Also, has anyone use Medscape to get their CME credit hours? Its not on the SC board of educational competencies, but it has CME's for NP, PA, MD, Nursing, ect (oddly enough the SC board does actually recognize AAPA, American Academy of Physician Assistant, as a place to get CME credits for nursing), haha which makes no sense to me since they won't recognize my past year of PA education...but I digress.

PS- Does anyone know of a good CME site where I can get more than just 1 measly credit hour per test. I have heard of people get 3,4,5 or 6 credit hours at one time. That would be nice since I only have a month to complete 30 hours and my clinical schedule leaves me little free time to work on it.

Thank you, and any advice would be greatly appreciated!

-Scott E. BSN, PA-S

[Guttercat, ASN, RN]

Seriously? A second year PA program does not qualify?

Unbelievable.

I wish I could help. I am unfamiliar with SC BON.

Good to know though, as I may very well be headed into a PA program, yet will want to keep my RN licensure.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Usually for re-certification of ACLS/PALS it is 4 hours. Initial certification is 8 hours or the length of the class.

I have used medscape but for my state it is ok.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Are you referring to CE for Nurses or CME - for physicians?

You will need to check with your state's NPA to answer specific questions. In some states, only the INITIAL certification can be used as CE... re-certs are not eligible.

BTW, I can understand why PA coursework would not be eligible for NURSING CE... because it is focused on medical practice, not nursing practice. It may seem petty, but this would align with ANA rules for CE.

[debert21]

Thanks for the responses. I mean CE for nurses. ACLS/PALS was initial certification this past year. So it sounds like they will give me a total of 8 hours for ACLS and PALS (4 for each). Just curious what sites people have used to get the most CE credits in the shortest amount of time. Esme12, have you found CE's on Medscape that offer more than 1 credit hour? I'm willing to do one credit at a time if necessary, just extremely time consuming, but that's just the way it is sometimes.