What Continuing Education Does a Nurse Need?
Nurses are licensed by the states they practice in. Some states have a requirement that nurses take continuing education courses to maintain their license. These courses are called "continuing education units" or CEUs, and they are intended to keep the nurse informed and educated about new medical advances, nursing standards and patient care practices.
There are a variety of ways to fulfill continuing education requirements. However, the most important aspect of a continuing education class is whether the class is accredited by the licensing state. If a class is accredited, it will be accepted toward a continuing education requirement; however, if a class is not accepted a nurse will have to complete additional hours to maintain licensure.
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State-by-State Analysis: Registered Nurses
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Registered nurses do not have a requirement for continuing education in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New York, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Every other state has some sort of requirement for registered nurses.
Advanced Practice Nurses
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Generally, advanced practice nurses have more stringent requirements for continuing education; only Arizona does not have an additional requirement. All other states require national certification, and many states require additional contact hours beyond those required of a registered nurse.
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Waiving out of Continuing Education
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Some states do allow nurses that are currently practicing to reduce or meet their continuing education requirement. However, most states still require at least a few contact hours to ensure nurses are updated with new practice techniques.
Online CEUs
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Many CEUs can be taken online. The amount of credit toward a continuing education requirement will vary by state, according to the state's regulations. Further, some classes may not be accepted in all states.
Conferences
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Many conferences have training and informative sections that count towards continuing education requirements. These conferences are organized in every state, and even take place on cruise ships or internationally.
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