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What Nurses Need for Continuing Education

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Continuing education (CE) maintains the standards of professionalism and competence required for a successful and effective nursing career. These requirements vary depending on the state. In fact, requirements range from none to 45 hours biennially for nurses. Determining what steps nurses need to complete, what opportunities are eligible for continuing education units, and how to apply can be complicated but is an important aspect of healthcare in the US.

Several states have no CE requirements, such as Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Arkansas, and Massachusetts. However, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Texas require 20 contact hours of continuing education biennially for both Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). Contact hours encompass non-specified continuing education coursework. For Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Maryland, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania Rhode Island, and South Dakota, 24 contact hours of CE are required biennially for RNs and LPNs as part of their license renewal process. Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah, and Virginia require 30 contact hours of CE biennially. Rhode Island requires 10 contact hours of continuing education while Idaho and North Dakota require 12 biennially. Oregon asks for 45 contact hours. 1.2

To satisfy the continuing education requirement of their license, Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) might need to supplement their contact hours with special course requirements. This occurs because healthcare regulations and expectations are complex and always changing. For example, Alabama RN and LPN certified nurses must allot 12 contact hours for independent study in a certain topic. Additionally, they need to complete four contact hours of Alabama Board-provided continuing education on Board functions, the Nurse Practice Act, regulations, professional conduct, and accountability for the first license renewal. In Alaska, RNs and LPNs can choose between 30 contact hours of continuing education or 60 hours of participation in uncompensated professional activities, or 320 hours of employment as an RN or LPN. In California, there are no alternatives or supplements to the 30 contact hours. However, in Delaware, RNs are required to complete 30 contact hours every 2 years and three of those hours must specialize in substance abuse training.2

In the District of Columbia, RNs must complete 3 hours in HIV/AIDS and 2 hours of instruction in cultural competency. Florida requires education in the following: the prevention of medical errors, HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, and recognizing impairment in the workplace. Illinois mandates a sexual harassment prevention course. Iowa requires its RNs and LPNs to receive additional training related to the identification and reporting of child/dependent adult abuse. Kentucky requires courses on pediatric abusive head trauma and HIV/AIDS, while Nevada has a state-required bioterrorism course. New Jersey requires a mandatory one-hour tissue organ donation course to supplement its contact hours. RNs and LPNs in New York must complete education about infection control and child abuse. North Carolina and Oklahoma have varied requirements per institution, so continuing medical education could include national certification, academic education, nursing projects, authoring nursing-related articles, or other options. In addition to the 45 hours, RNs and LPNs in Oregon have a one-time requirement for pain management-related learning. RNs and LPNs in Pennsylvania and Rhode Island must complete additional requirements for child abuse recognition and reporting as well as training about adult/child suicide prevention. RNs and LPNs in South Dakota must be trained in infection control and prevention, recognizing impaired colleagues, and controlled substance prescribing and administering.

These specialized requirements seek to rectify recurrent medical errors, lack of coordinated care, less-than-optimal patient outcomes, and the escalating cost of health care. Integrating solutions as specialized requirements within the existing continuing education framework for nurses helps to address these concerns. 2,3 Regardless, it can be difficult to keep track of requirements, especially for nurses who are licensed in multiple states. Careful attention to continuing education is beneficial both practically and skill-wise for nurses.

References

  1. “Nursing Continuing Education Requirements by State, RN CE – AAACEUs.”AAACEUs, www.aaaceus.com/state_nursing_requirements.asp.
  2. Bindon, Susan L. “Professional Development Strategies to Enhance Nurses’ Knowledge and Maintain Safe Practice.” AORN Journal, vol. 106, no. 2, Wiley, July 2017, pp. 99110. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aorn.2017.06.002.
  3. Balmer, Jann. “The Transformation of Continuing Medical Education (CME) in the United States.” Advances in Medical Education and Practice, Informa UK Limited, Sept. 2013, p. 171. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.2147/amep.s35087.