Continuing Education in Nursing Key Terms

Understand continuing education in nursing requirements by learning key terms

By Shannon Tani

While requirements vary by state, all nurses must take continuing education courses to ensure that their skills remain up to date. However, it's important for you to understand the types of programs available in order to make wise decisions. For example, your CEUs must have accreditation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. As long as the program has this status, you are free to look for the type of course that best suits your schedule, whether that's self-study or on-site training.

Continuing education unit (CEU)

A continuing education unit is equal to 10 hours of study in the continuing education course. Many professions, including nursing, require workers to receive a certain number of CEUs per year.
Try: Read more about continuing education units from the Tennessee Technology Center at Shelbyville.

American Nurses Credentialing Center

The American Nurses Credentialing Center is an organization that regulates the standards of continuing education classes for nurses. If a course meets the standards of the Center, then it is accredited, which means that it will count towards a nurse's required CEUs. Nurses can take classes that are not accredited, but they may not count towards CEUs.
Try: Learn more about the process of accreditation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Nursing Skills Competency Program

The Nursing Skills Competency Program is created by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. It is a program designed to improve the skills of nurses and to verify that nurses have the skills necessary to work with patients. This program does not meet the criteria to gain CEUs, but it's nonetheless important for nurses to periodically check competency levels.
Try: Learn more about the Nursing Skills Competency Program form MedScape.

Self-study courses

Nurses are busy people and it can be difficult to find the time to meet CEU requirements. Self-study courses allow nurses to study on their own time. You can take classes through the Internet, or through books or videos.
Try: Take a look at the self-study courses for nurses at Nurse.com.

Seminars for nursing continuing education

Some nurses prefer to learn in person. For these people, seminars are an ideal choice. Seminars are short courses that last a day or two. You can either look for courses within your city, or travel to find courses that are more interesting.
Try: Learn more about nursing seminars through NursingSpectrum.

On-site education

On-site education is an ideal way for a hospital or doctor's office to ensure that all nurses meet their requirements. In an on-site seminar, an educational company will come to your location to offer the course.
Try: Med-Ed offers on-site seminars for nursing continuing education.