LPN CEUS - Choices

The question of which CEU courses are the best for LPNs is, of course, an open one. No two nurses are the same in their goals and interests, so no single answer will fit everyone. Before asking which courses are the best for you, it makes more sense to first think about how to make good decisions for your continuing education. Nurses sometimes make the mistake of choosing CEU courses based on their interests alone or on the strengths of their existing skill set. Reality sets in later and it turns out that the courses are not as relevant as the nurse had hoped or that they did not contribute substantially to his professional development. So some careful thought and planning early on can save you time, money, and grief later.

How a LPN can choose a CEUS

This article makes specific suggestions about which courses to take later. But first, here are some basic guidelines to help you choose wisely when selecting CEU courses:

Consider your career goals. If you know you’re going to retire in a few years, a course on future trends for nursing might not make as much sense for you as for someone just beginning her career. Do you plan to go on to get an RN? Then courses in departmental administration and working effectively with subordinate personnel will be very helpful. If you intend to go to medical school for your M.D., courses that focus on specific procedures or medical terminology will be more applicable than those addressing administrative issues (at least in the short term). And of course, your area of specialty is an important criterion. So keep your career path in mind; it can be an important compass to guide you as you choose your CEUs.

Consider your community. Whether you work in a rural Midwestern clinic or a large hospital serving a densely populated urban area, you serve a community with fairly consistent and predictable needs. Think about your location and the socio-economic status of your patients: would a course in geriatrics be more useful to more of your patients than those about ER trauma?

Consider social trends. If you think carefully, you can spot trends that will help you prepare for the future needs of the healthcare industry. There’s no getting away from the integrated EHR (Electronic Health Record), for example, so it would be smart to get some training now. Are you comfortable with interpreting the readouts of the latest monitors and diagnostic equipment? They will only get more sophisticated, so courses in that area might be a good investment. Work on identifying now those trends that will shape the future of the field. The baby boomers are retiring. What does that mean for nursing in the next 20-30 years?

Read the headlines. You can glean a surprising amount of information by staying abreast of news and current events. You don’t have to become an expert or spend a lot of time reading the newspaper—even a quick skim will give hints about relevant CEU courses. When you read a headline stating the large number of head wounds suffered by soldiers in Iraq, you know that CEUs in neurology and the brain will be useful no matter where your career takes you. Increasing sexual activity among teens means courses in STDs and sex education will help make you a valuable asset at any facility.

With these guidelines in hand, take a look at your CEU options—there are many. Nursing education has changed a great deal over the last decade as internet technology has evolved. You can now take classes from the comfort of your home or office rather than going to a separate classroom location, making fulfilling your CEU requirements more inexpensive and convenient than ever.

Foundation LPN Courses

We recommend that you take some core CEUs that will always be relevant and important in the industry (provided they make sense for you based on the selection criteria above). These include courses in the following:

Aging and long-term care. Nurses will always have aging patients to care for. Focusing your attention in this area has the added advantage of expanding your career options to home and private healthcare.

Hospice. Despite your best efforts, nurses will always have to face death and help their patients do the same.

Degenerative diseases (diabetes, heart diseases, cancers, and so on). Unfortunately, these and other lifestyle diseases show no signs of abating. These courses are especially useful if you serve communities that show unusual susceptibility to these conditions.

HIPAA. Government regulation is as much a part of your job as latex and gauze. Brush up on the legislation that governs patient privacy—and imposes penalties for violating it.

Topics for today’s RN

And here are some further course recommendations based on emerging trends and the current social environment in the United States:

Medical ethics. As medical technology continues to advance, it will inevitably create more controversy such as that we’re already seeing with regard to cloning and stem cell research and, more recently, distribution of “Plan-B" contraception. Learn how to assess and think soundly about the issues.

Depression and other mood disorders. Medical understanding of these illnesses has increased substantially, and as care providers learn to diagnose them, increasing numbers of patients will require care.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Large numbers of soldiers returning from war zones in Afghanistan and Iraq suffer from this disorder. Even if you are not a nurse in the VA system, you will see this condition and its effects on the victim’s family and friends.

Medicine and law. Patients are becoming ever more informed about treatment and their rights as patients. Help to protect them—and yourself—by learning about the legal aspects of your job.

And perhaps most important, don’t forget to take care of yourself. Look for courses in:

Stress management
Taxes and business management
Exercise, nutrition, and fitness
Balancing home and work life

It’s true—nurses sometimes perceive CEU requirements as merely a burden to be borne. But it’s also true that the requirements are designed to protect patients and ensure the ability of the system to continue to deliver high-quality care. With the proper planning and careful thought, your CEU courses can help ensure that you’re up to date on the latest information of your profession and serve as important stepping stones on your career path. Browse our courses now to get started.

RN CEUS

The question of which CEU courses are the best for RNs is, of course, an open one; the answer depends on several factors which change with time and which vary from person to person. So it’s important to think about those factors and about how to make smart CEU choices before sitting down to register for them. Nurses sometimes make the mistake of choosing CEU courses based on their interests alone or on the strengths of their existing skill set. Reality sets in later and it turns out that the courses are not as relevant as the nurse had hoped or that they did not contribute substantially to her professional development. Some careful planning and forethought now can save you a lot of time and money later. Choose wisely; it’s your time and your money.

How a RN should choose a course

This article makes specific suggestions about topics for study later. But first, here are some basic guidelines to help you choose wisely when selecting CEU courses:

Consider your career goals. If you know you’re going to retire in a few years, a course on future trends for nursing might not make as much sense for you as for someone just beginning her career. If you intend to go to medical school for your M.D., courses that focus on specific procedures or medical terminology will be more helpful on that route than those addressing administrative issues. And of course, your area of specialty is an important criterion. Keep your career path in mind; it can be an important compass to guide you as you choose your CEUs.

Also think about how the nursing profession itself can impact your career path. You’ve heard a lot about the shortage of nurses—what are the implications for continuing education? Furthermore, advisory boards to the federal government have recommended that a majority of nurses hold Bachelors’ degrees by 2010. It would be smart to look for CEUs that may also count as college credit.

Consider social trends. If you think carefully, you can spot trends that will help you prepare for the future needs of the healthcare industry. There’s no getting away from the integrated EHR (Electronic Health Record), for example, so it would be smart to get some training. Are you comfortable with interpreting the readouts of the latest monitors and diagnostic equipment? They will only get more sophisticated, so courses in that area might be a good investment. Work on identifying now those trends that will shape the future of the field. The baby boomers are retiring. What does that mean for nursing in the next 20-30 years?

Basic RN CEUS Courses

Administration. RNs are very important in healthcare facility administration. They are supervisors, department heads, community liaisons, and more. CEUs in all areas of management will be useful—from budgeting to labor law.

HIPAA. Government regulation is as much a part of your job as latex and gauze. Brush up on the legislation that governs patient privacy—and imposes penalties for violating it.

Topics for modern RN

And here are some further course recommendations based on emerging trends and the current social environment in the United States:

Advanced care and planning. One of the emerging trends in nursing places an RN at the center of an interdisciplinary team of care providers. The RN’s role, in addition to medical care he pay provide, is to coordinate and delegate the team’s activities within the context of a comprehensive patient care plan. You’ll need to know a little about each discipline on your team and how to create effective care plans.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Large numbers of soldiers returning from wars in Afghanistan and Iraq suffer from this disorder. Even if you are not a nurse in the VA system, you will see this condition and its effects on the victim’s family and friends.

Medicine and law. Patients are becoming ever more informed about treatment and their rights as patients. Help to protect them—and yourself—by learning about the legal aspects of your job.

And perhaps most important, don’t forget to take care of yourself. Look for courses in:

Stress management
Taxes and business management
Exercise, nutrition, and fitness
Balancing home and work life

It’s true—RNs sometimes perceive CEU requirements as merely a burden to be borne. But it’s also true that the requirements are designed to protect patients and ensure the ability of the system to continue to deliver high-quality care. With proper planning and careful thought, your CEU courses can help ensure that you’re up to date on the latest developments in your profession and can serve as important stepping stones on your career path. Browse our courses now to get started.

Here is a List of our CEUS Courses