Mandatory Education for all nurses

[pepsihla]

Who is for mandatory continuing education? This includes CE's, CME's, or CEU's (all used interchangeably).

This education would be separate from what your job requires you to complete to stay competent on a yearly basis.

Some states already require this, what is your opinion?

I personally feel every state needs mandatory education requirements.

I live in Arizona, and as of now, Arizona does not have any mandatory continuing educational requirements. However, there is mandatory education required by the healthcare organization that I work for.

Heidi

RN in Arizona

[TazziRN, RN]

Wow....I thought mandatory CE's were required in every state for license renewal. It's definitely required in CA, we have to have 30 units every two years for renewal.

[suzanne4, RN]

Each state set their own Standards and Policies. Arizona also issues a license that is good for four years, vs. the standard two. If a nurse is currently practicing, they are getting more than what is required in most states. If you add in the BCLS, ACLS, etc., plus the mandatory coures at work, and even just one day workshops, you are well over that.

I average about 150 hours per year, and that is even when I was living out of the country. It is very easy to do.

[rjflyn, ASN, RN]

not required in NC either

thought they ask how many you got as they track to see what the average nurse gets

rj

[Antikigirl, ASN, RN]

Wasn't required in Oregon, but now we have a CME that must be taken for all medical professionals. It is a pain CME that all MD's and Nurses must take by 2008 in order to reapply for licensure.

I think it is a good thing if it is easily available to people, and cost is decent (I work agency so it is on my dime!). But pain issues have long been overlooked and so many stigmas about pain management are around that clearing the air is a bonus to patients big time! I don't mind at all!

But I do like the flexibility of this CME...I had 4years to take it! (haven't yet, but now it is online at a reasonable price and I will be taking it that way! I knew if I waited a bit it would be on line :) ).

[tvccrn, ASN, RN]

Not required in Wisconsin either. I do think it's a good idea so nurses dont' get stuck in a rut and not bother to keep up with new information.

tvccrn

[purplemania, BSN, RN]

I think it is appropriate to expect PROFESSIONALS with licenses to continue their education. Just look at all the new meds that have been introduced in the past few years. However, I saw a resolution draft from a "citizens group" in Washington DC that wants nurses to be required to have continuing ed specific to their practice. That would mean the nurse could not get credit for courses outside their practice. Also they wanted sites set up for nurses to be checked off on competencies annually. No idea how they thought it should be paid for (increase cost of my license?). Anyway, they must not be aware this is required by most certifying bodies already, like JCAHO.

I am amazed how many lazy nurses there are who never crack a book or look online to learn a thing. Scary sometimes.

[SmilingBluEyes]

No mandate in WA either, but I get plenty w/my reading multiple journals , being an AWHONN member, and I do try to attend conferences, when I can get the money together. Also there are mandatory CE courses online that my hospital requires, annually that take HOURS to do (more like days). I think everyone should be required a certain number of CE hours---how many, up for debate. But we should always be learning new things.

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing is advocating Continued Competency of RN's/ LPN's (no longer just beginning minimal competency as evidenced by passing the boards) -

http://www.ncsbn.org/pdfs/Continued_Comp_Paper_TestingServices.pdf

[43RN20]

i am from wisconsin where there are no mandates for ces.

i believe you are correct in your opinion that too often nurses lack the necessary incentive toward continuing ed. unless it is employer driven.

the more contact that i have with rns, the more i believe that way too many of them left learning behind when they left their classes & received their licenses. in this age of growing scientific knowledge , i believe that this must be considered a critical issue if we claim to place a high value on patient safety.

the practice of nursing is under public scrutiny & receiving negative press like never before. the profession needs to recognize its responsibility for the competence of its nurses.

a summary of mandatory ces , by state, can be found @ www.medscape.com. because ces can now be earned free of charge online @ www.medscape.com, a mandate for 25 ces would not be imposing a hardship on rns. www.nurse.com offers 1 yr. unlimited ces for $34.99/yr .

[Altra, BSN, RN]

This is just being implemented in my state. However, "the word" so far is that much of the in-house annual education we do will not count toward CE requirement as these are mostly inservices taught by in-house staff -- unless they "beef up" these inservices and provide the state with curricula, objectives, etc.

I do think that there should be some CE requirement to maintain professional licensure.

[Susan9608]

In TX, we have to have 20 hours of CE every year. We also have to have something on bioterrorism and the nurse's role in it. We used to have to take something on hepatits C, but I think that's over with.