As a registered nurse (RN), a licensed practical nurse or vocational nurse (LPN/LVN) or a nurse practitioner (NP), you are most likely required to complete a certain number of continuing education nursing courses each year to keep your nursing licensure current. But where will you find the time? Although it may be difficult to fit into your busy schedule, completion of these courses is necessary to maintain and advance your career. One of the most convenient options is to complete your nursing continuing education online. In this demanding field, there are more and more options for online nursing education, not only for required continuing education credits, but also for advanced degrees in nursing, public health and health administration.
 Online Nursing Continuing Education Courses Many universities have online programs, and many private companies offer accredited courses that will fulfill contact hour requirements for RNs, LVNs and LPNs. When starting any nursing continuing education course online, first make sure that the course is accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation or another professional body. Also, different states have varying requirements, so make sure the course you are taking completes the requirement for practicing as a nurse in your state. For instance, a course on acute and chronic pain may partially meet the Oregon State Board requirement for education on pain management, and completely meet the Michigan requirement for pain and symptom management. Learning more about specific requirements in your state will help you decide which continuing nursing education courses will work best for you.
A Selection of Continuing Education Courses There are dozens of continuing education nursing courses to choose from, but here is a selection of courses offered online, with a short description of each. Many of these courses are continuing education courses for LVNs, LPNs, NPs or specific specialties, like forensic nursing: Acute and Chronic Pain Assessment and Management: This nursing continuing education course focuses on current assessment and management techniques and includes information about different pain types, addiction issues and myths about pain management. Acute Pancreatitis: This course outlines important diagnostic test findings associated with pancreatitis and the expected medical and surgical management of the disease. Bipolar Disorder: This course provides health care professionals with an overview of Bipolar Disorder, current treatment standards and additional clinical information for treating patients with this disease. Forensic Evidence Collection for Nurses: This course provides an introduction to forensic nursing with an emphasis on evidence collection associated with sexual assault. This two contact hour credit course meets the Texas requirement for forensic evidence collection for nurses working in the emergency department. Inflammatory Bowel Disease: This three contact hour course provides nurses with current information about patients suffering from IBD. Ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and other bowel disorders will be explored. HIV Case Studies—Stages, Treatments, and Complications: This four-hour course uses the case study method to compare and contrast the various stages of HIV, the treatments that might be used, and common complications. Extensive information about current drug therapy's including combinations and complications is also included. This course is a requirement for nurses practicing in Washington State.
Advanced Degree Courses for Registered Nurses If you are a registered nurse and want to advance your career with an online master's degree in nursing, there are many programs to choose from. It helps to know what some of the coursework will be like in a master's program. The following are just a few examples of the courses you may encounter: Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Practice Nursing: This course is the beginning core course for a typical curriculum of a master's in nursing. Students will learn the philosophical and theoretical basis for professional nursing practice at an advanced level. Students will explore personal and professional values and emerging theory in nursing. Disparity and Social Justice in Health Care: This course analyzes how social, cultural, economic and political factors relate to the nature, distribution and meaning of health and illness. Students will examine the concepts of oppression, privilege and social justice as they relate to health disparities, discrimination in health care interaction, and inequities in the health care labor force. Curriculum Development in Nursing Education: At the advanced level of nursing studies, students will study the theoretical rationale for curriculum development and curricular problems in nursing. Students will incorporate the principles of curriculum design presented in class and in the literature into their own teaching. Leadership for Advanced Nursing Roles: This course focuses on personal and professional development for leadership in advanced nursing roles in health care delivery, clinical research and educational settings. The aim of this course is to help nurses learn how to contribute to improvements in the design and operation of health care and related systems and thus positively impact public health. The curriculum covers the application of systems theory, leadership theory, critical thinking and the use of argument to enact advanced nursing leadership roles. Program Planning & Evaluation: This course analyzes selected theories and methods of program planning and evaluation in the design, organization and development of health services for defined populations in the community. Selected theoretical and research models are reviewed for their use in the conceptualization and development of health programs and services for defined populations. No matter what career track you are on, whether it is transitioning from being a registered nurse to gaining a master's degree in public health, or completing required LPN contract hours to help you advance your nursing career, online nursing education is a great option. You can complete the courses on your own time, in your own home, and network with a community of nurses across the country.
Sources:
University of Washington, Bothell, 2007.
NurseCEU.com, 2008.
World Wide Learn, 2006.
RN.com, 2008.
Texas Board of Nursing, 2008. |
