Nursing Continuing Education

If you're in nursing, continuing education is a continuing concern. In today's high-tech, fast-paced world you can't afford to get left behind. Just graduating from nursing school isn't enough any more. Most employers require periodic continuing education, and most states require some to continue licensing. Thankfully, there are a dizzying array of Continuing Education, or CE courses available.

Anytime you're specializing, you'll want to take some courses in that specialty. For instance, in most cases a cardiac nurse will have to take some CE classes in cardiac care before his or her state will allow re-licensing.

You'll usually report your Continuing Education activity when renewing your license with the state. You should keep a copy of any certificates of completion or report cards from your CE classes for at least a couple of years, although that yellowed certificate from 1978 can probably be discarded at this point.

You may find a class that you'd really like to take, but you're not sure if it will count toward your requirements. Each state has a board of nursing, and that body would be the final arbiter of what counts and what doesn't. If in doubt, especially if you're spending your own money on the course, double-check with the Nursing Board.