Continuing Education While in Nursing School

[danablack]

I am a CNA in Texas, and I am also in my second semester of nursing school. My employer says that I am required to complete 12 hours of continuing education per year, but the only times that they offer in-services is while I am in clinical. i am not being offered any alternatives to complete my continuing education hours. With this type of license shouldn't my school hours count toward my continuing education. If so, where can I find the information to back this up??? I would appreciate anyone who can point me in the right direction.

Thank you,

Dana Black

[romie]

Depending on the coursework you are taking and whether or not it falls under the required "Body of Knowledge" for being a CNA, you should get CEU credits for your classes. In other fields, college coursework that falls under the body of knowledge defined by the certifying agency gives you 15 CEU's per college credit!

Check your state Nursing Aide Certification body and get the regs from them-- don't rely on some misinformed person at your job. Whoever is giving you information at your workplace sounds pretty uninformed and unreasonable-- do they really think that some silly inservice at work is actually worth more than a college nursing class?

Also you can check the regs for the type of facility you work at. The regs are usually available online and will probably outline the qualifications and education requirements of staff.

If they continue to give you a hard time, get a copy of your transcripts (I don't think they have to be official) and request the personel department to put them in your file as proof of having continuing education.

[luvmy2angels]

I was in a similar situation and my work didn't count my schooling. i was unable to attend any inservices. They told me if i didn't attend them that I couldn't work there any longer. I said okay...I would work until the end of Dec and then quit. The next week they gave me a folder with a bunch of papers in it and said if i read all the papers and filled out the questions they would use that as my inservice requirement. If your employer really wants you to work there, there are things they can do to help you out, escpecially the reason being you aren't able to go is because you are in school. I am not recommending you threaten to quit, I am just saying that there are ways in which they can assist you to reach the continuing education requirements!! Good Luck!!