Why Experienced Nurses Are Switching to Streamlined CEU Platforms
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Completing continuing education units (CEUs) on top of your many responsibilities as a nurse can feel challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. Streamlined CEU platforms can make it far easier for nurses to finish CEUs that are relevant to their state licensure requirements or nursing speciality because of their affordability and easy to use platform.
In this article, we’ll explore ten reasons to pick an online CEU provider to complete your nursing continuing education and discover the answers to some frequently asked questions related to streamlined CEU platforms.
10 Reasons Why Experienced Nurses Choose Streamlined CEU Platforms
Streamlined CEU platforms are cost-effective, simple to interact with, offer scheduling flexibility, can suit an array of learning styles, and meet accreditation standards set by both the federal American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and state licensure boards. Let’s dive in deeper to some of the benefits nurses can get when they choose a streamlined CEU platform:
1. On-Demand Courses
Most online CEU providers offer on-demand courses, meaning that you don’t have to attend the lectures or workshops at specific times. Instead, you can complete the courses on your schedule, whether that means taking a break for a few minutes during your nursing shift to read a few sections or completing several hours at once on your days off. Many nurses find that this flexibility in scheduling is an excellent perk that helps them more effectively balance work, family, and the other facets of their lives.
2. Easy To Use Platform
Streamlined CEU platforms typically use straightforward and well-organized interfaces. It isn’t complicated to figure out how to complete the necessary components of the course. These CEU platforms also typically have great user experience for desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and mobile phones.
3. Cost-Effective
Compared to in-person CEUs, streamlined CEU platforms are typically more affordable. Online CEUs offer all the required information and quizzes on demand, so you’ll usually pay less and spend less time meeting your requirements.
4. Wide Array of Subjects and Specialities
When it comes to course subjects and nursing specialities, an online CEU offers nurses more options. Streamlined CEU platforms aren’t limited by geography in terms of what courses they can offer or which instructors live nearby, which makes it more likely that you’ll be able to complete all your education units via one provider instead of several. Plus, if you are already or are interested in becoming a nurse with a specialty, you’ll be able to find courses more easily in your field.
5. Accredited by ANCC
Some online CEU platforms are accredited by the ANCC, which is the national accrediting body of CEUs for nurses in the US. Taking ANCC-accredited courses can provide nurses with an array of benefits, including:
- Receiving an excellent education: The ANCC rigorously evaluates all of its accredited courses to make sure that each course meets current standards and best practices in the nursing field. The ANCC also continually updates its materials, so you know that you’re getting the latest intel.
- Making it easier to renew your license: Since the ANCC is a national organization, they accredit courses in all fifty states, which makes it far easier to renew your license. It’s important to note that different states do have various licensing requirements, so make sure to research your state’s nursing board first.
- Having more options for where you work: Taking ANCC-accredited courses opens up more possibilities for where you work, since the information is valid in all fifty states. Courses approved by the ANCC may also give you the option to perform telehealth visits or become a travel nurse. You’re more likely to find these types of diverse course offerings via a streamlined CEU provider.
- Pursuing a nursing specialty or advancing your career: Courses accredited by the ANCC include those related to various nursing specialties and levels of licensure. Whether you want to advance from an RN to an APRN, ANCC-accredited courses on a CEU platform can help you get there.
- Taking courses that are aligned with international standards: The ANCC is the only healthcare organization in the US certified by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), so you know that the information you’re getting upholds rigorous standards and is free from bias.
6. Easy To Send CEUs to State Boards
An online CEU provider makes it simpler to make sure that your state nursing board receives your CEUs. Some streamlined CEU providers offer an integration with CE Broker, which is a service that automatically transfers your completed CEU records to your state board. This means you won’t have to worry about tracking down your transcripts and sending them along to renew your license.
7. Customized to Your State
Many CEU platforms offer course bundles customized to meet your state’s specific licensure requirements. Rather than trying to track down your state nursing board’s requirements on your own, a streamlined CEU provider can tell you which courses you need to fulfill certain licensure or nursing specialty requirements.
8. Learn From Anywhere
With an online CEU provider, you get to choose where you receive your education. You can meet your CEU requirements from the comfort of your home, while on your lunch break during a busy nursing shift, or anywhere else you choose. So long as you have an internet connection with a device that has internet capabilities, you’re ready to go.
9. Adapt Info To Your Learning Style
Streamlined CEU platforms allow you to tailor the courses you take to best fit your learning style. For instance, if you like to have text read aloud to you, you can ask your computer or smart phone to speak your course readings aloud. If you prefer to learn in small chunks throughout the day rather than sitting for a few hours, a digital CEU provider lets you do that too.
10. Take a Course At No Charge
With a digital CEU provider, you may be able to experience a course without paying for anything. At CE Ready, for instance, you can complete the sections of any course and take the quiz for free. This ability to try out the course before you purchase makes it easier to know if your chosen CEU platform is the best fit for your learning style, nursing schedule, and any other preferences you might have.
FAQs About Streamlined CEU Platforms
Following are the answers to some frequently asked questions about streamlined CEU platforms for busy nurses:
How Many CEUs Do Nurses Need To Take Each Year?
The number of CEUs you need to renew your license varies by state, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with your state’s nursing board. Nursing license renewal typically occurs every two years and requires 20-30 hours of contact hours. Some states may require nurses to take CEUs in specific topics in addition to any updates within the broader nursing field.
Are Online Nursing CEUs Accepted Everywhere?
Online nursing CEUs accredited by the ANCC are valid in all 50 states. However, since state licensure requirements vary, not all online CEUs may count toward your licensure renewal, so be sure to research your state’s specific requirements. So long as you choose ANCC-accredited courses though, those courses are considered valid in every state, regardless of whether you completed the CEU online or in person.
How Do Nurses Track Their CEU Credits?
Some nurses keep track of their CEU credits through a spreadsheet or checklist. That said, this type of system can be more prone to error. The easiest method for keeping track of your CEU credits is to choose an online provider that automatically keeps a record of your course history for you. With a platform like CE Ready that offers an integration feature with CE Broker, your courses will not only be kept track of automatically, but your completed units will be sent right to your state’s licensing board.
Are Online Nursing CEUs As Good?
If the online CEU provider is accredited by the ANCC, then the courses it offers will be just as good in quality as those offered by an in person platform. State licensure boards approve nursing CEUs completed both through in person courses and digital platforms.
How Many Hours Is One CEU Worth?
One continuing education unit or CEU is worth ten contact hours. A contact hour means that you interacted with the learning material for an hour. Contact hours encompass all parts of a continuing education course, including readings, lectures, assignments, and quizzes.
Streamlined CEU platforms are made with busy nurses like you in mind. Courses offered through this type of CEU provider have affordable price tags and are designed to provide flexibility in scheduling. If you choose an ANCC-accredited online provider like CE Ready, you can rest even easier knowing that the information you receive is current, meets rigorous standards, and valid in all fifty states. As a bonus, you can try one of our courses for free to see if our platform feels like the right fit. Check out our course catalog today and experience the difference of a streamlined CEU platform for yourself.