Oh dear . .Audited for proof of CEUs and don't have

Nurses General Nursing

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hello to anybody out there who's reading, and thank you for taking the time to do so.

i can't feel sorry for myself on this one and don't expect anyone else to, but at the same time i hope nobody will bother giving me a lecture because believe me, i already see the error of my ways. my state requires 30 hours of ceus, 4 of which must be bioterrorism but it's my understanding the bioterrorism can be a one-time deal in your career. first, i confess i have never taken the bioterrorism class and every 2 years when i have renewed online i have checked the box swearing and affirming that i have done so, thinking to myself 'yeah yeah, i'll get to it.' as for the remaining 26 ceu hours, i think i have maybe 8. one 7-hour certificate that i have is from an employer that i left in mid 2010. it *barely* fits within the 2-year time frame that my ceus are allowed to be from. yay for that small favor. i called this facility (didn't give my name or any details) and explained when i left the company and asked if by any chance there are other copies of ceus i earned there in my personnel file, explaining that i have lost my proof of ceus. i remember that we had inservices constantly but so far i can only find one certificate but the personnel lady was nasty and said my records would be boxed up somewhere and she wasn't going to take the time to look. i can understand her point of view, but if a former employee needs her to look for something in their file isn't that still a part of her job? that's part of my history, after all! yes, it was my job to keep up with any ceus i earned there. i do know that and as i said, don't need to be lectured. i think my state's policy of "keep up with your own ceus and we'll only ask for proof if we select you for random audit" is kind-of crazy. i'm the kind of person that if you tell me i *must* have something in order to renew my license, of course i'll have it. but to tell me you have to show it only if you're randomly selected, well . . .that apparently wasn't enough incentive for me.

my state's licensing board does not list specifically what the penalty is for not being able to produce adequate proof of ceus upon request; just that it results in disciplinary action. i guess i should just get the bioterrorism thing now and apologize and hope for the best on that one. what else can i do on that. meanwhile i'm still digging in old boxes for ceu certificates and not having much luck. my current employer may be able to help me out. . .sorry so long. if anybody has any input or advice, it is certainly welcome. i have 30 days and of course the ceus must have been earned within the last 2 years. thanks again if you got this far.

Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

Myfreece.comUnlimited contact hours for $30/year. Good luck

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Western Schools offers CEUs online. Take one 30 credit course and one on bioterrorism. It'll cost less than $200....small price to pay to keep your license.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
I would like to call and just hypothetically ask them what the probable penalty will be, or can be, but I am scared they'll start asking my name, etc. :uhoh21: :(

1. Sign up for a new Gmail or Yahoo account. Do not use any part of your real name in the username.

2. Use that e-mail account to send your BON an anonymous e-mail.

They WILL answer you back even if you don't give a name or other identifying info...ask me how I know ;)

For the future, print and/or save your CEU certificates to you hard drive. I download all of mine as PDF files and keep them in a folder, then back that folder up as needed.

Also, many online CEU sites will often keep copies of your certificates in your account for you.

Good luck in getting this sorted out.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

I've never been audited, but wouldn't it be fraud to say you completed a required class when in fact you hadn't? I know that there are lots of free online CEU's availalbe, I'd say start searching them out and spend every spare moment of the next 30 days getting your heiney covered....

Oh, and I NEVER trust anyone but ME to keep track of CEU's. Clearly another lesson learned

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I am of zero help; but I have a question regarding this. How do you find out if your state requires CEUs?

I think I have 1.5 hours for modules that were done through ANA. Then, they told me to print a certificate and maintain it for my records. Is this what you all are referring to?

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Nursing, you gotta love the mentality ..... the inservices provided at work, which probably have a more direct impact on day to day practice don't count but courses that are chosen for no other reason than timing, cost, location etc do.

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What? You don't think my method of saying, "What's free this month?" is the best way to find continuing education relative to my work?

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
Nursing, you gotta love the mentality ..... the inservices provided at work, which probably have a more direct impact on day to day practice don't count but courses that are chosen for no other reason than timing, cost, location etc do.
That may actually be an issue with your employer.Many classes and inservices (other than strictly equipment) can often be set up in a way that offers CEUs. However, the certifying body has to be notified and given certain data and the class must meet certain criteria.While some facilities, go to that trouble, many do not want to be bothered with the extra work. That, and many "inservices" are done on the fly, over a few minutes or as a drop in sort of thing. CEUs have to have a set time that be quantified.
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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
I am of zero help; but I have a question regarding this. How do you find out if your state requires CEUs?

I think I have 1.5 hours for modules that were done through ANA. Then, they told me to print a certificate and maintain it for my records. Is this what you all are referring to?

That's what they do in California. The website for your state BON should have all of that information. Here if the courses you take don't have a "provider number" it's a big hassle. I recall the the hell someone went through to figure out how many contact hours her college class provided because they didn't have a provider number.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

The problem is probably not the CEUs per se but rather that you lied on the application. I live in IL and this is the first renewal period that RNs have to have CEUs. When I renewed my RN, APN and controlled substances licenses all of them asked me check the box stating I had completed the CEU requirement. Below the box there was a statement saying that disciplinary action would result if we lied.

I know that by looking at the disciplinary reports for IL, they can suspend your license until you complete the CEUs. This unfortunately puts you in the position of always having to check "yes" when ask if your license has ever been disciplined.

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I would do enough to cover your butt ASAP. That way if the punishment is to be suspended until the CE's are completed, hopefully they won't suspend you as you will already have the required courses already done.. Good luck!

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I would have had those CECs done within a day of finding out I was being audited. No point in digging around, trying to get former employers to find some completions for you. GET BUSY!! There are so many online sources that there is no excuse to not already have your credits up to speed, especially after the swift kick from the auditor. Shoot, they don't take that long to do!

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