Continuing education for advanced practice nurses

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Professional Development

Background:

• Continuing education (CE) is crucial for advanced practice nurses (APNs) to stay current and meet recertification mandates.
• Existing CE opportunities have grown, but clarity on state and national certification requirements remains a challenge for APNs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and outline the specific state-level continuing education (CE) requirements for advanced practice nurses (APNs).
• To provide a comprehensive overview of CE needs for both state renewal and national recertification for APNs.

Main Methods:

• A telephone survey was conducted in July 1998 targeting all 50 state boards of nursing.
• Data regarding CE requirements were collected via telephone or facsimile transmission from all responding states.

Main Results:

• Information on state-specific CE requirements for APN license renewal was gathered from all 50 states.
• Details on national recertification requirements related to CE for APNs were compiled.

Conclusions:

• This article consolidates essential CE information for APNs, addressing state renewal and national recertification.
• Guidance is provided on factors APNs should consider when selecting appropriate CE offerings in advanced practice nursing.