LPN
Nurse continuing education is an important part of our career and professional development; it’s a requirement every few years to have a set number of hours or credits completed in order to renew our license. Sometimes state certification boards perform audits on these education requirements to make sure nurses are following the continuing education policies in their state of practice. It can sound intimidating to receive a nurse audit, but if you are prepared, you’ll be ready if the situation presents itself.
In case you are new to nursing or just need a refresher; continuing education helps keeps licensed nurses up to date in advances in the field and reviews important nursing concepts.
Depending on whether you hold an RN license or an LPN license; you will have different continuing education requirements prior to each license renewal. For this reason, it is important you always keep track of your license expiration dates.
It is also important to note that different states have different continuing education requirements, as well as renewal cycles.
Continuing education audits are usually randomly selected by the state board.
If you renewed your license thirty days after its expiration date or if you’ve been disciplined by the nursing board previously, it’s more likely you would be selected for a continuing education audit.
If you are selected for an audit, you will get notified when you go to renew your license. It will be requested that you send copies of your continuing education records to the state board along with any other requested information.
This is why it is important to keep all continuing education records you have completed for at least four years after completion. Some CE providers such as this one may even keep records for you.
You may have up to thirty days to respond to the audit request and provide the information requested.
The records you will need to provide for the audit typically include:
If all the information provided satisfies the board requirements, all is well.
It is possible to fail a continuing education audit if you don’t complete or provide adequate proof of current or acceptable continuing education information to the board. Engaging in continuing education not taken from an accredited provider is another way one might fail an audit.
It is possible to face disciplinary action in the event of failing a CE audit.
Most states have guidance for nurses to follow on how long to keep your continuing education records. As mentioned above, a good rule is to keep records for at least four years.
It is wise to file all your continuing education certificates and continuing education paperwork together with all the other information you need in a safe place you can remember and access easily.
It is important to complete all requirements for continuing education throughout each year instead of attempting to complete a lot of contact hours or credits in a short amount of time. Make sure the continuing education you want to complete will be accepted by your state board as well.
The nursing profession is a very rewarding but also a very demanding career, which can leave many nurses feeling drained. Continuing education can be a constructive way to re-establish the passion for the nursing field. Nurses have the opportunity to choose continuing education topics that interest them to keep them curious and excited about nursing.
If a nurse is looking to advance your career in the field, continuing education shows extra dedication to your career. This is especially true if you complete additional continuing education that isn’t required of you. You may be able to take advantage of job promotions you wouldn’t otherwise be considered for because you will have the extra knowledge it takes to perform the job.
In conclusion, nurse continuing education should be thought of as an extension of your formal nursing education to initially become licensed. “If you don’t use it, you will lose it” is a phrase I often heard from my nursing instructors when it comes to retaining nursing policies and best practices.
It is important we strive to continue learning all throughout our nursing careers. After reading this article, I hope you are better prepared for a continuing education audit and have a better understanding of why continuing education is important in nursing.
Love what you read?
Share our insider knowledge and tips!
Read More
Licensing | Licensing Info | Nursing CEUs Understanding Your 2024 West Virginia Nursing License Renewal Nurses have a demanding work schedule that leaves them with little time to review the rules and state requirements for license renewal. A lapse in licensure means...
Licensing | Licensing Info | Nursing CEUs Understanding Your 2024 Washington D.C. Nursing License Renewal Nurses work diligently in a variety of workplaces around the world, and to continue caring for patients, they must keep track of the Washingto D.C. nursing...
Licensing | Licensing Info | Nursing CEUs Understanding Your 2024 South Carolina Nurse License Renewal It’s not always easy to locate all of the necessary information for the 2024 South Carolina nurse license renewal, and this is especially true for people with busy...