How Do CEUs Work For Nurses?
CEUs Work For Nurses
CEUs are credits that nurses earn to stay current with their license and specialty. Taking continuing education courses approved by the ANCC will increase the amount of money they earn and help them stay ahead of the profession. CNEs can help nurses learn new skills and network with other RNs, but they’re not for everyone. Some RNs find it difficult to schedule enough time to complete their CE hours. In these cases, CNEs can be a great option.
In order to receive CEU credits for continuing education, nurses must participate in a course for at least 10 hours. The course must be accredited by the ANCC, and the content must relate to nursing. ANCC approves all nursing CE courses offered through accredited institutions. However, some nursing CEU courses may not be appropriate for the state’s CE requirements, and prerequisite courses and general education courses cannot count. In these cases, nurses should make sure to double-check the CEU requirements before enrolling.
Nurses need CEUs for their licenses in many states. Large hospitals with a nursing union may offer free courses for nurses. But if you’re an independent nurse, you can easily complete CEUs for Nurses online at your own pace. Alternatively, you can choose a free or low-cost CE course through the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) offers a directory of nationally accredited CEU providers.
Taking a course for CEs is important for your career. CEs can be very helpful in enhancing basic nursing knowledge. Oftentimes, nurses choose topics they can complete in a short period of time. This way, they can maximize their productivity. When choosing what courses to take, they will also consider their speed and efficiency. You should keep copies of your certificate and any course material for up to four years.
How Do CEUs Work For Nurses?
In addition to taking courses for licensure renewal, continuing education is required every two years. Depending on your specialty, your initial license will only last for 6 to 29 months. Your second renewal must be completed within that same time frame. During your first renewal, you’ll be exempted from most CE requirements but will be required to take at least 12 hours of continuing education during the renewal period. If you’re an LPN, the requirements are slightly different.
In addition to continuing education, CEUs can be fun. Many nurses opt to combine their CE hours with vacations. There are CE seminars offered by providers who offer vacations in the form of tropical getaways or cruises. Attending such events is a great way to network and see what opportunities are out there. These seminars are also good opportunities to explore new travel nursing jobs. So, don’t neglect your CEUs!
The first renewal period for a new nurse is exempt from CE requirements. After that, they’ll have to meet the CE requirements according to the state’s regulations. Depending on the state, they’ll need anywhere from one to forty-five contact hours for licensure renewal. For example, Margaret recently moved to California from Colorado, which has no CE requirements. However, she’s now required to take 30 CE hours every two years in California.