Continuing Education

[Roy Fokker, BSN, RN]

Hello :-)

I'm a Junior Nursing (B.S.) student here at UB ("Gooo Bills!")

I searched the forum and found only tangetial refferences to Nursing education.

Here's my assignment/question::

What are your (i.e. RNs, LPNs etc.) views on 'mandatory nursing education'?

Basically, what I'm trying to find out is that should testing and skills/knowledge upgrade be made mandatory? Should Nurses be taken to task if they don't go keep their skill sets and knowledge base up-to-date?

Lemme try and clarrify that a bit more - should it be made compulsory for nurses to keep going back to school from time to time?

I'm supposed to argue FOR it but I don't mind getting info AGAINST it as well. Here's what I think::

Reasons FOR ::

1. Why not? It is after all upgrading knowledge to stay current with breakthroughs and advances in practise. We'll all have to deal with newer machines and treatment methods from time to time. We do after all have to renew out BLS certification, correct? So why not the RN certification as well?

2. School helps keep a nurse on her/his toes. Renewal of skills already learnt with refresher courses may also help prevent errors and mistakes.

Reasons AGAINST ::

1. We are facing a rather severe shortage now. Making it mandatory for nurses to go back to school may already deplete the personnel pool.

2. There aren't enough educators/institutions to meet the demand for new nurses. Sending back RNs will place an extra burden on this already short-staffed sector of Nursing.

Those are some of them I can think of right now. Ofcourse, what is really bugging is that I can't seem to find profesisonal sources to cite as evidence. *sigh* I suck at research...

So, all you wonderful people out there - whats the word on this? :-)

Thank you so much and have a GREAT day!

Regards,

Roy

[hypnotic_nurse]

what are your (i.e. rns, lpns etc.) views on 'mandatory nursing education'?

i am an rn. my state does not require continuing education. on the whole, i think it's a good thing, if a lot of trouble at times. we require it of teachers and mds; why not nurses?

should testing and skills/knowledge upgrade be made mandatory? i am not sure what you mean by skills upgrade. testing -- i wouldn't advocate that; too many people have test anxiety. although if you are renewing acls, pals or bls - you will be tested over the material. and that's fair, you do want to prove you can do it if you have to.

should nurses be taken to task if they don't go keep their skill sets and knowledge base up-to-date? do you mean non renewal of licensure or some other sanction? and are we still talking about continuing education? if a nurse isn't doing her job correctly or is having problems with particular skills, most hospitals have some kind of in-house education to assist with that (i've taken a couple of iv classes, myself).

should it be made compulsory for nurses to keep going back to school from time to time? maybe not traditional school, but i like the opportunities for credits that are now in place -- modules through nursing magazines, websites, university "grand rounds", etc. some states do require continuing education to keep licensure, and i see nothing wrong with that. it's a professional license, after all.

[Roy Fokker, BSN, RN]

Wow! That was quick!

Thanks! Your responses have been noted down and are already assisting me in formulating points! :-)

Thanks again.