Nursing CEUs

Why is continuing education important in nursing?

Nursing is a lifelong learning process. And although continuing education courses for nurses are not a substitute for advanced education, they can also affect the quality of care and patient outcomes and are required by state nursing boards to ensure that quality is maintained. These courses may necessary opportunities to improve practice skills and knowledge at every step of the road. It also gives nurses the opportunity to advance their own techniques in patients care.

What is nursing CE?

As a registered nurse (RN), a licensed practical nurse (LPN), or advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), you're often required to complete a certain number of continuing education courses to keep your license current. This type of continuing education is sometimes referred to as CEs or CEUs – Contact Hours and Continuing Education Units (CEUs). It can usually be completed without spending a lot of money. Some of your ours may be done for free or with minimal costs.

What is a CE hour?

Health care providers who have been in practice for many years are sometimes confused by the terms of continuing education unit, contact hour, CE hour, CE credits or CEU. Mostly, professional organizations use the term CE hour as the measurement for mandated continuing education. It is a designation of course time where one hour is equal to 0.10 CEUs. You may also hear that an hour is called a “contract hour” or “classroom hour”, but it can be virtual as well.

What is the difference between CEU and contact hour?

The difference lies in the length of time involved in a learning process and the organization. This measure was designated as Contact Hours. One contact hour refers to 50-60 minutes of actual clock time spent in an educational course or activity in the classroom with an instructor. One continuing education unit (CEU) or credit is equal to 10 contact hours; which means that 10 clock hours are needed to complete one CEU.

What is the difference between CE and CEU?

CE is more of a generic term and it is the abbreviation for continuing education. It can include activities such as seminars, conferences or online classes. On the other side, CEU (a continuing education unit) is a unit of credit and is equal to 10 hours of participation in a course or approved activity with an instructor.

Can CME be used for CEU?

Generally, CME refers to credits for physicians and others with a medical license, while CE (continuing education) or CEU (continuing education unit) are terms used for other health professions.

How many hours is 1 CEU worth?

One CEU equals 10 contact hours of continuing education classes or training with a qualified instructor. A contact hour is equivalent to one-hour interaction between an instructor and the participant and the minimum number of CEUs awarded is 0.1.

What are the CE requirements for nurses?

All licensed practical nurses are required to complete at least two hours of training every five years. For the renewal of a license that has been issued for less than three years, the requirement is 24 contact hours or 2.4 CEUs. When it comes to RNs, it’s required to complete 30 contact hours every 2 years. All nurses should check with their own hospital or any associations to which they belong for further requirements of their state nursing board.