Nursing Continuing Education

In the ever-changing arena of healthcare, nurses must be diligent in their profession, and stay abreast of constantly changing technology, research, and practice related issues. There are many nursing continuing education courses available in a variety of topics pertinent to the nurses' area of expertise or interests. Most states require a number (which varies by state) of continuing education units (CEUs) to be completed each license renewal period, usually every two years.

There are many websites devoted strictly to CEUs, as well as those offered by various professional nursing organizations. Some nursing continuing education providers offer free courses, some offer unlimited CEUs for a flat fee per year, others base fees per course and number of CEUs awarded. Topics range from general, such as pain management or diabetes, to more specific, like intravascular catheter-related infections. Many courses can be combined with travel to fun destinations, with many discounts available for hotels, meals, and possibly some attractions, especially if attending a conference in the Las Vegas area.

There are many course offerings available throughout the year, and are offered at various locations across the country. Nurses can join professional nursing organizations, such as the Nurses Service Organization or the American Nurses Association among others, and receive regular subscriptions of nursing trade magazines with many CEU offerings at a discount, as a membership benefit. These publications also offer updates on care planning, new health concerns, such as the Avian flu or bioterrorism, new treatment modalities, and present research findings among many other topics.

A nurse is a professional that must be able to meet constant challenges in a consistently expanding healthcare arena. In order to be able to meet these demands, nursing continuing education should be a priority for all nurses, so that the best level of care can be provided to patients in a variety of healthcare settings. Holistic care is the core of nursing, and patients depend on nurses to be well educated in their field, and proficient in the performance of nursing skills pertinent to their care. As a great majority of our population, the Baby Boomers, age, they will seek healthcare in a new era, one filled with technological advances allowing treatment modalities that have never been available before. Many alternative treatments and therapies are offered as well, which allows the healthcare consumer a vast array of choices.

It is a nurse's responsibility to be well informed of this expanding healthcare arena, which is why nursing continuing education is so very important to the profession. Nurses provide the bulk of care to patients; they educate, advocate, nurture, and have the ability to make a difference in every patient's healthcare experience. Patients depend on nurses and trust they will provide them with the best care. Aside from being required for license renewal, the vast amount of nursing continuing education opportunities available makes it a painless, comfortable, interesting, and enjoyable way for nurses to expand their knowledge and skill level, and know that they are making a difference for their patients.