Registered nurses are highly skilled individuals who provide quality bedside and out-patient care. It is important that registered nurses are always up to date to the latest trends in the healthcare industry most especially relating to medical advancements, treatments and prevention programs to be able for them to continuously deliver superior quality of health care to their patients. Nurses need to always be aware of new information or research concerning the health care industry for them to be able to advance their knowledge, broaden their experience and provide improved quality of health care.
For nurses to be fully aware and to understand the current trends both in the medical field and in the society, they must enroll in RN continuing education courses. Continuing education provides the nurses with the information and training they need to perform various treatment options. It also provides familiarity with the nursing guidelines and with the latest technological advancements in the medical field. Continuing education courses covers a wide range of topics such as the vaccinations, bioterrorism, management of HIV patients, foreign languages and sanitation courses that will provide registered nurses new knowledge and skills to make them more effective and proficient in their profession.
RN continuing education not only acts as a supplement to give nurses an advantage in their jobs and also to benefit their employers, it is also one of the most essential requirements when renewing a registered nursing license. Almost all of the 50 states require all registered nurses to complete a specific number of continuing education hours per year for them to be able to renew their license and to keep it active. In the state of California, for example, registered nurses need 30 hours of RN continuing education every two years and the requirement for continuing education must be met during the previous renewal period. Registered nurses who will renew their license for the first time do not have to show proof of RN continuing education during the first two years after the initial license has been conferred.
Chosen courses for RN continuing education should be applicable to the nursing field and must directly or indirectly relate to patient care. RN continuing education courses are usually offered by hospitals to their employees. They may also be taken at a junior/technical college or through an internet based program. College science courses taken at a university or college may be considered as acceptable courses. In some cases, one semester unit of a college science course may be transferable as 15 continuing education hours. Some of the acceptable RN continuing education topics or courses include patient monitoring equipments, advance life support, foreign languages, office nursing, quality assurance, advanced IV therapy, infection control, and crisis intervention, to name a few. Only state-recognized RN continuing education courses will be approved for licensure. In order to find out which RN continuing education courses are acceptable to the Board, consult and constantly check with your state board of nursing.