| There are a number of factors to take into | | | | choose to study: |
| consideration when planning your continuing education | | | | |
| for nurse registration/license renewal. Each state has | | | | 1. Pain management |
| its own specifications. Some allow nurses to | | | | 2. Bio-terrorism preparedness |
| substitute practice hours for contact hours. However, | | | | 3. End of life care |
| it can take hundreds of practice hours to achieve the | | | | 4. Reducing medical errors |
| number of required hours for CE. | | | | 5. Ethics |
| In contrast, 24-30 contact hours every two years will | | | | 6. HIV infection control |
| fulfill licensing or registration requirements in many | | | | 7. Wound care |
| states. You can easily meet this minimum by taking a | | | | You can also select courses related to specialties |
| few hours at a time as the opportunity arises. Just | | | | such as cardiology, endocrinology, oncology, and |
| be careful to select accredited courses that are | | | | many more. |
| recognized as valid in your state. | | | | Ways to Take Courses |
| Your employer may host seminars/lectures or | | | | If you enjoy the give and take of a seminar, |
| provide training as a standard feature of your job. | | | | attending in person or via an audio-conference is ideal. |
| This is a common benefit of working in large medical | | | | That way, you can exchange ideas with other nurses |
| facilities. However, if you work for a small clinic or | | | | and educators. However, a busy schedule may well |
| private practice you may not have this advantage. | | | | keep you from attending classes. This isn't unusual in |
| Fortunately, there are many affordable options for | | | | the high-demand field of nursing where chronic |
| continuing education for nurse practitioners, RNs, | | | | understaffing abounds. In that case, you may prefer |
| LPNs and LVNs. | | | | an online course that allows you to start and stop at |
| Paying for your own courses also gives you the | | | | your own convenience. Advanced courses are |
| freedom to select the subjects of your choice. Use | | | | offered in online MSN degree programs. |
| these classes to fill gaps in your knowledge, open up | | | | Online training is quickly becoming a favored method |
| new career opportunities, and ensure that your | | | | for continuing education. For nurse educators, it |
| patients are receiving the best care you can offer. | | | | offers the ability to update course materials quickly. |
| Employment related CE is usually tax deductible, so | | | | This ensures that you learn about the most current |
| keep receipts for any courses you take. | | | | medical information and best practices - not what is |
| What You Can Learn | | | | contained in an outdated textbook. Some CEU |
| There are thousands of possible options to choose | | | | providers allow you to take courses before you pay |
| from when it comes to continuing education. For | | | | for them. This gives you the opportunity to evaluate |
| nurse training that requires hands on demonstrations, | | | | the quality of the material free of charge. Of course, |
| you will need to attend in person. However, most of | | | | to get your certificate showing your credit hours you |
| your contact hours can be earned through distance | | | | do have to complete the payment process. |
| learning. Here are just a few of the subjects you can | | | | |