Since this is the beginning of a new year it’s a great time to assess you CNE needs for licensure or certification renewal. Depending on where you live and work, continuing nursing education (CNE) may be a requirement for licensure renewal. CNE benefits the nurse, the employer, but ultimately it benefits the patients you care for. If you are working in a mandatory CNE state, be sure to check the minimal number of hours you need. Also find out if any new or special requirements have been added since your last renewal. For years New York state has required CNE related to infection control Texas once required bio hazard training. It has since been removed as a CNE requirement and other mandatory courses are now required. Louisiana has a tiered system requirement based on one’s hours of employment. Oklahoma and Colorado are two states with no CNE requirements.
Given this variation, what should a nurse consider related to CNE?
CNE speaks to a nurse’s professionalism and professional development. It shows that you value the care you provide and it speaks to your recognition of the need to be current. It can even propel you toward continued growth by introducing you to new information and improved skills. For example, I knew early in my career that I wanted to be a psychiatric nurse. I had visions of helping the most vulnerable patients. I soon learned that there was much more to learn. As I pursued additional education, I discovered my love for leadership which grew into a love for teaching. I learned that there was a way to increase my knowledge without having to attain an additional degree. In those early days CNE was not a requirement and employers gave no recognition for CNE. You were lucky to get the time off to attend programs. There was no reimbursement and no expectation that you would implement anything you learned or in any way contribute to professional growth and development.
Today things have changed significantly. Some states CNE requirement goes beyond the acquisition of a specific number of hours. They look at competency also. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) criteria required that CNE address gaps in knowledge, skill and/or practice when developing activities and use outcome measures. Some states require the nurse to earn CNE contact hours in their area of practice. ANCC also encourages CNE providers to do follow up to see if the CNE made a difference. Be sure to know your state’s requirement. CNE in part is learning activities that build upon the bases of practice, education, administration, research, or theory development so as to improve the health of the public.
Looking Forward
In addition to certification in one’s area of practice, continuing nursing education demonstrates to your employer, your commitment to continuous learning and improvement. Keep in mind that CNE is different from in-service and goes beyond what was taught in the employer’s orientation program. Contact hours cannot be awarded for this programs.
As a nurse you are responsible to more than earning the designated number of contact hour to renew your license. You want to be able to demonstrate that you have acquired knowledge, improved skills, and added to your practice.
So you see, CNE can be used to validate what you know. It can also provide opportunity to improve your professional rank, indicating that you are a valuable team member with something to offer. It can set you up for new opportunities and promotion. It improves your self-esteem and worth. Oh, did I mention that you get to meet some really talented, skilled, knowledgeable nurses. And it just might open the door to new employment opportunities. So my final comment – try seeing CNE as an opportunity and not simply as a requirement. Allow yourself to experience and to grow.