| There are a number of factors to take into | | | | 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 substitute | | | | 2. Bio-terrorism preparedness |
| practice hours for contact hours. However, it can take | | | | 3. End of life care |
| hundreds of practice hours to achieve the number of | | | | 4. Reducing medical errors |
| 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 be | | | | such as cardiology, endocrinology, oncology, and many |
| careful to select accredited courses that are | | | | more. |
| recognized as valid in your state. | | | | Ways to Take Courses |
| Your employer may host seminars/lectures or provide | | | | If you enjoy the give and take of a seminar, attending |
| training as a standard feature of your job. This is a | | | | in person or via an audio-conference is ideal. That way, |
| common benefit of working in large medical facilities. | | | | you can exchange ideas with other nurses and |
| However, if you work for a small clinic or private | | | | educators. However, a busy schedule may well keep |
| practice you may not have this advantage. Fortunately, | | | | you from attending classes. This isn't unusual in the |
| there are many affordable options for continuing | | | | high-demand field of nursing where chronic |
| education for nurse practitioners, RNs, LPNs and LVNs. | | | | understaffing abounds. In that case, you may prefer an |
| Paying for your own courses also gives you the | | | | online course that allows you to start and stop at your |
| freedom to select the subjects of your choice. Use | | | | own convenience. |
| 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 offers |
| patients are receiving the best care you can offer. | | | | the ability to update course materials quickly. This |
| Employment related CE is usually tax deductible, so | | | | ensures that you learn about the most current medical |
| keep receipts for any courses you take. | | | | information and best practices - not what is contained |
| What You Can Learn | | | | in an outdated textbook. Some CEU providers allow |
| There are thousands of possible options to choose | | | | you to take courses before you pay for them. This |
| from when it comes to continuing education. For nurse | | | | gives you the opportunity to evaluate the quality of the |
| training that requires hands on demonstrations, you will | | | | material free of charge. Of course, to get your |
| need to attend in person. However, most of your | | | | certificate showing your credit hours you do have to |
| contact hours can be earned through distance learning. | | | | complete the payment process. |
| Here are just a few of the subjects you can choose | | | | |