The nursing profession is continually growing and adapting to new information. As the knowledge base grows in healthcare, nurses must stay up-to-date with best practice guidelines to provide outstanding patient care.
Continuing education, also known as CE or CME (continuing medical education), is the best way for nursing professionals to stay current and keep their skills sharp. Nurses should prioritize CE to gain relevant education, professional development, personal growth and knowledge of specialty areas that lead to meeting evolving license requirements. Approach your practice as a lifelong learner. Prioritizing continuing education can also prepare you for next steps in your nursing career.
Benefits of Continuing Education for Nurses
Education and training are paramount to be a successful nurse. While it may take time out of your busy schedule, the benefits far outweigh the commitment. In fact, it’s arguable that continuing education is a requirement to be a nurse. So, what’s so great about it?
Nurse training enables nurses to be equipped for evolving healthcare needs. Not only this, but it can serve as protection from legal and medical mistakes that can lead to revocation of your nursing license. Among the benefits of continuing education are stronger patient care, awareness of evidence-based practices, innovative techniques and life-saving knowledge. After all, most individuals who choose a nursing career have a deep passion for caring for others. Your commitment to providing quality care is solidified when you prioritize staying updated and sharp.
Additionally, special skills and certifications have the potential to qualify you for higher-level nursing roles. Your experience, in addition to continuing education credentials, can land you the role of your dreams and provide an increased salary. Further, continuing education can enable you to manage your daily workload. Many nursing roles are fast-paced and require you to be alert at all times. Having best practices in your pocket can equip you to manage your responsibilities efficiently to ultimately enhance your patient care and clinical expertise.
Research Awareness Saves Lives
Because the nursing field is constantly evolving, new research findings provide critical knowledge for nurses to cultivate best practice standards and current evidence of how to improve patient care. Nurses must adapt to the new information and adjust their practices to work toward improving patient results and experiences. One of the joys of healthcare is that nurses see firsthand how their knowledge can not only improve patient education and drive positive patient outcomes but save lives. However, keeping abreast of healthcare updates is key.
For example, a recent renewal of the neonatal resuscitation program shows that in just the last two years, there have been updates, including medication dosage changes. This is just one example of how the nursing field changes quickly and adjustments are made to improve patient care to provide better results.
Proactivity Protects Nurses
Further, staying educated on nursing updates at a state level allows nurses to prevent lawsuits. CE is usually needed to renew certain certifications, and most states have made it a requirement to renew nursing licenses. The specification of CE for renewal speaks to the importance of lifelong learning in the nursing profession and how rapidly knowledge is improved throughout the field.
In addition to practice changes, some CE focuses on applying technology and improved communication to daily nursing tasks. Regulations and laws change over time, and it’s the nurse’s responsibility to stay abreast of these changes. CE provides information that helps prevent medical mistakes, which in turn creates equity and inclusion in patient care. Nurses who prioritize CE can provide safer care to patients and better educate them about procedures, medications and tests. Providing this knowledge to patients makes them feel more at ease during times in their lives that may feel scary.
Ways to Get Nursing Continuing Education
Many nurses refresh and learn new skills through nursing associations including ANA, AACN and AWHONN. Nurses can choose CE in their specialties to focus on skills in their specific area or refresh on general information. They can even improve management skills such as communication, budget and leadership. A lot of times CE allows nurses to grow and improve on a personal level too.
Nurses can also continue their education through intentional programs. American College of Education® (ACE) provides multi-level nursing programs that stress the importance of lifelong learning and its benefits to student nurses and mature nursing professionals. ACE nursing students experience frequent exposure to recent journals and articles that unveil evidence-based practice. If you are interested in furthering your education in the nursing field check out ACE’s nursing programs.
As you can see, nursing is a career of lifelong learning, and continuing your education is a great way to make a difference. The nursing profession is constantly changing, and continuing education enables nurses to run parallel with changes and not feel behind. Find the credentials and programs that enhance the skills you’re looking to grow in. Discover new areas of interest with courses in unique specialty areas. Your commitment to continuing education can drive the success of your nursing career, so don’t delay and get started today.
Work toward your nursing career goals with American College of Education’s nursing programs.
