Continuing education for nurses

This is state-specific, so you may want to post this in your state's forum under the "Region" tab.

Generally speaking -- don't sweat it. You'll have plenty of opportunities to earn these.

Ok first take a deep breath. :-)

You should check with your state's BON for specific requirements to maintain licensure.

Once you know the guidelines , the rest is easy. Yes, you can obtain CEU's in a variety of ways: conferences, articles in journals, sometimes inservices at work. You can even do them online. Some professional nursing organizations are also accredited to offer CEU. Your only requirement is to make sure they have been accredited to give CEU's. You can even find ways to get free education.

You will be given a certificate of completion when you have completed your education. It is your responsibility to keep those certificates. Most BON's will not require you to send in those certificates unless you are audited. You need to keep the forms for anywhere to 4 - 8 years in case you are audited.

So you see, it is not difficult. Just requires a bit of record keeping

Just to add, it isn't your employer's responsibility to ensure you maintain your CEU's or offer CEU's to you. It is your own professional responsibility to maintain your license.

1. Check your BON for CEU requirements

2. In Texas, you DO NOT need CEU's for your first license renewal. Any CEU's you take BEFORE your first renewal WILL NOT COUNT towards future renewals.

3. Make sure if you take CEU's online they are CE and NOT CME (CME is for docs/anps)

4. Some good web pages for free online CEU's:

http://search.medscape.com/medscapecme-search?queryText=Psych

http://www.medpagetoday.com/

Here is how it works in Texas: 20 CNE is required when you renew your license. A new rule states that the 20 hours must be in your area of practice (or you need to hold a certification which of course requires many hours of CNE). You are responsible for achieving the CNE and for keeping up with your own records. The hospital has no responsibility in providing CNE, although many do for employee satisfaction. In Texas the CNE is defined in Rule 216 (you can see the NPA online). The Board will audit a number of renewals annually. When you renew, you will sign an affidavit stating you have a minimum of 20 CNE. If you are audited you have to prove you have those contact hours. Hope this helps. Advice: Keep a folder specifically for all your certificates and choose the topics wisely. Just because it is "approved" in another state does not mean your state will honor it.

I would like to add that the contact hours in Texas must be no more than 2 years old when you claim them as CNE. Also, CME is ok, as long as you only claim the portion of the program that pertained to nursing. For instance, if you were in a seminar officer medical education and the topic was pharmacy updates on cardiology - that would be appropriate for a nurse to claim. If the topic had to do with DIAGNOSING or anything outside your scope of practice, then you could not claim the portion of the course pertaining to MD's only.

Check your state. State of GA does not require any.