Continuing Education Requirements for Nurses
Nursing is the quickest-growing career opportunity in the United States. With more than one million new nurses predicted to be required by the year 2016, nursing is the leading growth profession in the United States according to the Bureau of Labor. Today, programs for nursing are on the increase as well, as more and more advance treatment options and associate's degrees find their way into the curriculum aimed at new and upcoming nurses. Registered nursing programs are available at most schools and locations throughout the United States, as well as through colleges, junior colleges, vocational schools, technical schools, and hospitals.
Education and upgrades are offered in a wide range of degrees including associate's degrees, bachelor's degrees, registered nurse certification, doctorates, and master's degrees and this just names a few of the programs available for nurses today. Nurses, no matter what education level they are at, are required to maintain their competence level each year in order to provide exceptional nursing skills to their patients. Every nurse is required to obtain a number of continuing education hours that are credited to their career record, but as with most things, this varies from one state to the next. By making continuing education a mandatory effort annually, you help ensure that the nurses treating patients have a rich knowledge base and improved nursing skills.
Every state requires the nurse to have a minimum number of contact hours and the continuing education requirements vary widely. Some states only require five contact hours while others require 30 contact hours throughout the year. Some states even go so far as to specify which courses nurses are required to take each year, and which courses will be accepted for accreditation. Each state also has a list of the agencies that they have approved for offering continuing educational courses to nurses.
Most nurses who are working to maintain their state licenses can find opportunities for continuing education in their own states, and generally, their states offer the courses, which will or have been approved as advanced nursing courses, or nursing courses related to a specific specialty area. Many of today's program choices specialize in areas of interest involving geriatrics, as much of our population is aging. Today's baby boomers are now becoming tomorrow's seniors, which is a huge segment of our population, so any course upgrades available in the aging field would definitely benefit your nursing career of the future.
It is also important to know programs, options are available at the various schools, as many of today's colleges, and universities offer their programs in online versions over the internet, which makes earning contact hours easier. To find out about which programs are offered at what facilities, check http://www.topnursingcolleges.com/ today.
Because every state looks at and records the number of hours for each student it is necessary for the student to ensure that the hours they have collected towards their renewal is properly documented with the school, and the state. As with the state requirements, the coursework being taken by the nurse must fit into a certain framework as well. Plus, continuing education credits are also mandatory for upcoming license renewals. Nurses much pass their coursework with a better grade than a C in order to be awarded their contact hours required for their continuing education credits.
Published: 2009-09-22
