By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    healthcare cybersecurity
    4 Helpful Tips on How to Protect Your Medical Practice Against Cyber Attacks
    October 24, 2021
    Health Check Diagnosis Medical Condition Analysis Concept
    6 Health Woes With Online Remedies
    January 19, 2022
    Eight Things Men Should Know About the Male Menopause
    Eight Things Men Should Know About the Male Menopause
    April 24, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Does Insurance Cover the Cost of Therapy?
    June 14, 2022
    mental health loss loved one
    Covering Your Own Medical Issues After Losing a Loved One
    July 21, 2024
    healthcare SaaS
    Venture Capital Trends for Healthcare SaaS Platforms
    May 24, 2024
    Latest News
    Cigarette Makers Sue the FDA Over New Labeling Rules
    July 8, 2025
    End-Use Verification: Simple but Potentially Powerful
    July 8, 2025
    How Much do Financial Incentives Matter to Physicians?
    July 8, 2025
    NanoViricides Reports Positive Anti-viral Effect of HIV Drug
    July 8, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Helpful Strategies for Fulfilling Nursing CEU Requirements
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Career > Helpful Strategies for Fulfilling Nursing CEU Requirements
CareerNursing

Helpful Strategies for Fulfilling Nursing CEU Requirements

Aises Jammy
Aises Jammy
Share
8 Min Read
nursing education online
Shutterstock Photo License - By Daniel M Ernst
SHARE

If you’re a registered nurse in the US, chances are good that you’ll be required to take CEUs (continuing education units) at some point. This is mandated by most states, and many healthcare facilities require CEUs for nursing staff regardless of state laws.

Contents
Don’t flirt with missed deadlinesWhen in doubt, ask the state board of nursingTake CEU courses earlyConsider online coursesThe takeaway

If you’re taking CEUs for the first time, though, it’s easy to get bewildered by all the requirements, recommendations, and tips. It’s hard to get all the information from one source, which may entail plenty of research to make sure you’re ticking all the boxes. Plus, once you’ve taken care of everything you’re required to do, what about fulfilling the things you simply want to do for yourself? Maybe you want to get a specific certification, or you were hoping to attend a seminar as part of your continuing education. You could even decide to take nursing CEU online courses from a site like Nursing CE Central, so you wouldn’t have to worry about putting together a list of CEU courses on your own. How do these fit into the big picture?

The good news is that CEUs can be easy enough if you take the right steps. One study from 2011 showed that most nurses have a positive view of online courses, so you may want to consider that option.

Below you’ll find some helpful strategies laid out as simply as possible, so you can hopefully set the story straight in your head. There are regulations to bear in mind, as well as recommendations that will hopefully result in a smoother process overall.

More Read

upgrade to your nursing career
4 Pertinent Ways to Upgrade Your Nursing Career
4 Reasons to Choose a Career in Nursing
5 Benefits Of Getting ACLS Certification And How It Helps Your Career
The Benefits of Specializing in a Nursing Field
5 Nursing Careers You Can Pursue

Don’t flirt with missed deadlines

To understand why procrastinating is a bad idea, you have to consider the primary purpose of CEUs for nurses: to satisfy state requirements in order to renew their licenses. Simple, right? It is, until a deadline gets missed. This results in the nurse’s license getting suspended (or sometimes revoked), since they weren’t able to fulfill the mandated continuing education requirements. What happens next?

  • The best-case scenario would be for the nurse to finish up their CEU courses, present the correct documentation to the state board of nursing, and enter an appeal to have their license reinstated.
  • If that doesn’t work, the nurse may be asked to take the nurse’s licensing exam again, as if they’re earning their license for the first time.
  • It can also impact a nurse’s job, since hospitals and other healthcare facilities can’t keep someone with a revoked license on staff.

Fulfilling CEUs is a pretty demanding task given most nurses’ hectic work schedules, but it’s still better than dealing with the fallout of a missed deadline.

When in doubt, ask the state board of nursing

There’s a certain degree of overlap between CEU requirements in different states, but it’s always a good idea to double-check if you aren’t sure about something. Information like license renewal deadlines or the number of required contact hours is easy to find for each state, but some questions are a bit more obscure.

For example, each state establishes its own list of approved CEU providers, including which types of courses can be counted as CEUs. In Alaska, this includes unpaid volunteer activities. In North Carolina, it includes getting published in reputable journals, teaching a nursing-related course, or completing a research project. If you find a nursing-related course that may or may not count as a CEU, but that you really want to register for, it wouldn’t hurt to ask the state board of nursing if that course is approved. With any luck, you’ll be able to take the course you’re passionate about, and get CEU credit for it too.

Take CEU courses early

Planning way ahead for your CEU deadlines doesn’t just take some of the pressure off; it also gives you an advantage in other ways. This is because you won’t be scrambling to enroll in the courses you need at the very last minute; you will have chosen, enrolled in, and completed some or all of your CEU courses before the deadline. You might want to see if there are any online nursing courses that you can take for credit.

Think about what CEU courses are supposed to be for. Yes, they’re necessary if you want to keep your nursing license current, but they’re also a form of continuing education. Do you want to take irrelevant or lower-quality courses because those were the only options, or do you want to leverage all that time and effort to move your career forward? Many professionals of all types use continuing education to qualify for promotions or better jobs, and the same goes for nurses. With the right planning – which probably includes some planning ahead – this could be you as well.

Consider online courses

Nursing CEUs take all different formats, and the ones you choose will depend on a few different factors. You might select a course because you’re interested in the material that it teaches, or because the teacher is someone you want to learn from. For many nurses, one important consideration is how the course will fit with their schedules. Given the fact that nurses’ schedules usually leave little spare time for anything else, it’s helpful if a course can be worked around a crazy schedule, rather than interrupting it.

This is where online CEU courses get their chance to shine. Many of them are self-paced, meaning a busy nurse can complete the coursework as and when their schedule allows. As long as the deadlines are met, it’s all good. This flexibility contrasts sharply with more traditional courses, such as classroom-based CEUs. It’s tough for most people to carve out blocks of time in the middle of the workday, but this is especially true for nurses.

Then there’s the fact that online CEUs also save nurses time and money, since there’s no need to drive to and from classes. Whether it’s gas, parking, public transport, or any other associated expense, it all adds up. It’s also easier to find free CEU courses online, which of course can represent a significant savings compared to some courses.

The takeaway

Completing nursing CEUs can be a daunting task, but there are ways to streamline the process. Make sure you’re coloring inside the lines, start enrolling early to get the best courses, and consider online CEUs for greater flexibility. You could be surprised at how smoothly it goes with the right strategies on your side. You can find some more options in this post from Nurse Journal.

TAGGED:ceunursing careernursing education
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Health Care Buzz Today
Business
July 8, 2025
As We Mature (age), Things Change…
Orthopaedics
July 8, 2025
FDA Approves Roche (Genentech) Skin Cancer Drug–Zelboraf
Business
July 8, 2025
Smart Money on Pfizer?
Business
July 8, 2025

You Might also Like

advancement in nursing career
Nursing

5 Ways to Advance Your Nursing Career

February 8, 2023
CareerParenting

Ways to Get your Young Adult Ready for a Successful Future

July 9, 2020
Physicians careers
Career

8 Non-Traditional Jobs for Physicians Looking for a Job Change

July 9, 2023
nursing trends and predictions
Nursing

Biggest Nursing Trends and Predictions for 2023

May 25, 2023
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?