If you’re getting close to your state’s annual or biannual deadline to log CEUs, it’s not too late to catch up. (Here’s a list of contact hour requirements by state compiled by rn.com.)
You can find tons of high-quality education out there, either free or low-cost, on just about any topic you can imagine. Here are a few to get you started.
NurseCEU.com is a free-to-use, web-based directory of online continuing education courses for nurses and other health care professionals. Along with free continuing education courses, the site also lists low-cost options that are easy on the budget.
RnCEUs.com offers dozens of courses on topics ranging from advances in multiple sclerosis to urinary incontinence in the elderly, as well as a number of state-specific courses, all priced at $20 or less.
Medscape Nursing offers 35 free CEU programs for nurses online or on iOS or Android apps (free registration required).
Also be sure to check out medical education providers like DKBmed and Med Learning Group for free, in-depth exploration of specific diseases and conditions, presented in the form of live programs, slide decks, webinars, and podcasts, and accompanied by newsletters, interviews, and knowledge assessments. Providers like these affiliate with highly respected medical institutions and subject matter experts to provide up-to-the-minute information for physicians, nurses, PAs/NPs, pharmacists, and other health professionals.
Many membership nursing organizations like the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses, American Association of Critical Care Nurses, and American Association of Nurse Practitioners offer free CEU courses as a benefit of membership.
Other professional associations, like the American Nurses Association, offer a wide variety of online courses, with prices ranging from free (0 contact hours) to over $400 (25 contact hours), with discounts for ANA members. The Emergency Nurses Association provides both fee-based and free evidence-based continuing education courses pertaining to emergency nursing.
Don’t automatically dismiss fee-based continuing education providers. The annual membership fees are usually modest and provide access to a wide variety of accredited courses. For example, Lippincott https://www.nursingcenter.com/continuing-education ($39.95), RN.com ($48), and Nurse.com ($49.95) all offer an extensive array of courses, as well as support services and bonus features to give you real value for your money. And if the cost of fee-based services gives you pause, keep in mind that fees and expenses for CE courses may be tax-deductible, thereby minimizing the hit to your pocketbook.
And, as always, remember that Freedom Healthcare Staffing works for you. If your goal is to become a better nurse, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’ll give you the resources and support you need.
Whatever CEU programs you choose, be sure the content is accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation (ANCC), and don’t forget to file your credits with the appropriate state agency.