Continuing Education Round-up for Nurse Practitioners
Nurse practitioners are required to complete 50 hours of continuing education credits every year to maintain their licenses. The good news is that there are plenty of opportunities to obtain these hours, both in person and virtually today, providing excellent opportunities to stay on top of the latest technologies, practices and developments in the field. Here is a round-up of some of the best continuing education programs available.
Where can Nurse Practitioners get Continuing Education Credits?
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) is a community that supports more than 119,000 members, working to improve patient care and advance the nurse practitioner practice. Its mission is to empower NPs to “advance quality health care through practice, education, advocacy, research and leadership.”
The AANP offers two main sources for continuing education. The first is its CE Center, which offers members access to more than 170 free courses on many topic areas and through multiple formats. In addition, the AANP sponsors an annual conference, which offered 99 contact hours including more than 33 contact hours in pharmacology in 2021. The 2022 conference will be held in Orlando, Florida, between June 21 and June 26.
Nurse Practitioner Associates for Continuing Education
The Nurse Practitioner Associates for Continuing Education (NPACE) is a national nonprofit organization that “provides quality, evidence-based educational programs to NPs … to support the advancement of the nurse practitioner role and promote excellence in patient care.”
Practitioners can sign up for live virtual conferences, webinars, courses or participate in any one of half a dozen in-person conferences scheduled for 2022. Finally, the NPACE offers on-demand CE courses that can be explored and taken at your own pace and in the comfort of your own home.
Abbott Nutrition Health Institute
Nurse practitioners interested in learning more about diet and nutrition for a wide range of populations may be interested in browsing through the course catalog from Abbott Nutrition Health Institute. Topics such as malnutrition, nutrition factors in cancer, breastfeeding, and many others are covered in these online-based courses.
Nurse.com
By paying an inexpensive annual subscription, nurse practitioners can gain free access to hundreds of online continuing education courses, including all state-required courses. Topics range from ambulatory care to women’s health and everything in between. All courses are self-paced and mobile-device friendly.
Nurse CEU
Established in 2000, Nurse CEU serves as a clearinghouse for leading online CEU providers, offering hundreds of courses to fulfill its mission to “help registered nurses, nurse practitioners, licensed vocational nurses and licensed practical nurses find the nursing CEU courses needed for their nursing license renewal.”
Courses can be browsed by category including critical care nursing; ear, nose and throat; psychology; infectious disease and dozens of others. A wide range of free nursing courses are available as well.
Other Sources
Besides major professional associations, nurse practitioners can earn CE credits through many other local, state, and national channels. According to an article in Nurse Journal, you can find CE opportunities through nursing schools, course directories, or peer-reviewed publications in addition to those offered by professional organizations. The right CE training will vary depending on individual goals, career, and experience levels.
Finally, you can locate other accredited organizations or programs through the American Nurses Credentialing Center, which also lists requirements, award recognition, and offers readiness tests for nurse practitioners.
Get Insurance
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