What is a "Contact Hour"?

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Ive been reading nursing stuff online and it says for some courses continuing education for some hospitals they award "contact hours". What is this? Do you get paid for each contact hour?

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

No. It's just a way of measuring the hours. For example when you take a course at university, it's 3 semester hours, or "x" number of contact hours. Some states require "x" number of contact hours, or CEUs, to renew their license and it's just a way of keeping tract of those hours.

At least that's how it works way down here in Florida. :)

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in massachusetts, nurses need 15 ceu's (continuing education units) in order to renew their licenses, every 2 yrs.

these requirements will vary from state to state.

there are websites that will offer 1 or 2, for free.

most seminars will offer ceu's (it states how many on their brochures), which you pay to attend.

they even have take-at-home tests (that you order online), you can get 30 or more ceu's, for a very decent price.

it's important to keep track of all ceu's you obtain over the 2 yr period.

best of everything to you.

leslie

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Specializes in critical care, management, med surg, edu.

A contact hour equals 50 minutes of classroom time. Some facilities pay and others do not.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Some entities define a contact hour as 50 or 60 minutes.

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA), American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM), and certain state BON recognize a contact hour as 60 minutes.

My state BON recognizes a contact hour as 50 or 60 minutes.

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Specializes in critical care, management, med surg, edu.

I'm sure it can vary from one body to another. In higher ed, 50 min is the standard.

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