Completing nursing CEUs is never easy, but have you ever wondered if they had to be quite so difficult? Whether it’s complying with all the requirements, or finding ways to fit the courses into your work schedule, CEU deadlines never come at convenient times. The good news? There are a few ways to simplify the process of fulfilling CEU requirements. They’re all pretty common-sense, and work well with most people’s preferences, budgets, and learning styles.
For example, online CEU courses from a site like Nursing CE Central can save both time and money as you complete requirements from home. Then there are strategies like taking the courses early, or exploring non-traditional CEUs for a more varied experience. If you want to complete your nursing CEUs with flying colors, you’re in luck, because you’re about to find out how.
Consider taking online courses
As a nurse, the chances are very good that you have a formidable work schedule. Whether the hours are long, the shifts are unpredictable, or it’s a mixture of both, it can seem overwhelming to add CEU courses to the mix. Traditional classroom-based courses, with regularly scheduled meetings in the middle of the workday, doesn’t necessarily get along with a busy schedule.
This is why some nurses find online CEU courses to be so convenient. They offer some much-needed flexibility, and they represent a savings in transportation costs as well. You won’t have to commit to a round-trip to class every week, and you won’t have to pay for the round-trip either. Whether that means public transport, parking, or gas, the cost of everything is going up, so you might as well save a few bucks where you can.
It’s possible to find online CEU courses that are self-paced too, meaning you can simply complete your assignments as you’re able to find the time. If you’re on a tight budget, there are even free CEU courses available online.
Plan CEU courses more carefully
The main point of CEU courses may be to maintain a current nursing license, but what about the continuing education aspect? Instead of just going through the motions and taking the easiest courses, that time and effort should be leveraged in the way it’s supposed to be.
After all, that’s why professionals in just about every industry participate in continuing education. Maybe there’s a certification that would raise their chances of getting promoted, or a new specialization that would qualify them for a higher-paying job. This can be true for nurses as well — gaining additional certifications or developing an area of specialization can be very beneficial for a nurse’s career.
The “strategy” for a lot of nurses sometimes consists of waiting to enroll in courses until they don’t dare wait any longer, and then registering for whatever’s available. This may still satisfy the technical requirements, but it really doesn’t do CEU courses justice. If you start enrolling in CEU courses early, you can pick and choose the ones that would be the best fit for you, instead of ending up with irrelevant courses that are all crammed in at the last minute.
Don’t hesitate to check with the state board of nursing
Some CEU requirements apply to all nurses, while others are specific to nurses in certain states. For example, all nurses have to stick with courses that are approved by their state’s board of nursing (or by the ANCC), but some states will approve courses that others don’t count as CEUs.
Of course, the most important information you should confirm will be the length of the license renewal period, how many contact hours are required, and when each renewal period expires. This information is easy to find online for each state, but there are sometimes other questions that aren’t so easily answered. It sometimes happens that a nurse finds a course, conference, or seminar that seems like it should count as a CEU, but they aren’t quite sure. In this instance, the best course of action would be to double-check with the state board of nursing before enrolling. The nurse can definitely take the course for their own benefit, but if it won’t count as a CEU, they should know that before investing their time, effort, and money.
Pay close attention to deadlines
Even though most license renewal periods last for two or three years, many nurses still find that the deadlines can sneak up on them. Between one thing and another, required CEU courses keep getting pushed to the back of the line — until they can’t be ignored any longer. This situation generally works out fine in the end, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. Given how serious the potential consequences are of missing the license renewal deadline, it pays to not wait until the last minute. Here’s what could happen if the required CEU courses aren’t completed on time:
- The first course of action would be to finish the CEU coursework, then submit the documentation to the state board of nursing. By that point, your nursing license would have been either revoked or suspended. If the board of nursing views your appeal favorably, your license might be reinstated at this point.
- If not, the next step could be to pass the licensing exam for the second time in order to obtain a valid nursing license.
- This error wouldn’t just affect the status of your nursing license; it would probably also affect your job. Healthcare facilities have to ensure that all their staff are appropriately licensed, so if your nursing license becomes invalid, you may lose your job as a result.
As you can see, the state board of nursing expects nurses to respect the deadline, so that should definitely be a consideration as you plan your CEUs.
The takeaway
You might be a seasoned pro at taking CEUs, or you might be looking at your first ever CEU deadline. Whatever the case, there are usually ways to improve your strategies for a more streamlined experience as you complete your CEU requirements.
