Continuing Education: Online Learning For Nurses to Improve Patient Care

It is often said that is the most dangerous nurse is the one that knows everything. When you close your mind to learning and growing as a nurse you become arrogant and complacent. You become over-confident and dangerous. The nurses who are constantly striving to learn new and better ways to take care of their patients are the most competent capable.

Some Nurses Just Won’t Do it

A former nurse manager of mine had the hardest time trying to explain to me why some nurses and people in general just would not be open to learning new things and continuing their education. I could not understand why those involved in the ever-changing and evolving field of medicine would decide that after they had finished their nursing degree that they were finished with their education completely. They would grumble and groan about yearly hospital competencies and would cringe at the thought of a change in their routine, even if the new practice had strong evidence to support the need for the change to improve their patient care.

State Required C.E. Hours

Many states require C.E.s (continuing education hours) annually to maintain licensure as a nurse. While I am fortunate, and glad, that Georgia does not mandate this, I am clear on the reasonings why some states do. Unfortunately there will always be some nurses who will do the bare minimum. If they are not required to continue their education, they just won’t do it.

The best thing a nurse can do for themself and their patients is to further their education.

Online Learning Makes Continue Your Education Easy

With online learning being so accessible, there is no reason why anyone should feel the need to settle with their current level of education. If you have the desire, but in the past have had barriers, the time is now to step up to the plate and break down any that remains.

There is always something more you can learn from formal nursing education that will help to improve the care you provide. Not only will you have the ability to increase your knowledge base, but you will have the opportunity to network with other nurses and professionals to get a taste of what nursing care is like in other specialties and facilities. You will make yourself more marketable as a nurse and an increased asset to your coworkers and to the community you practice in.

Online Colleges: Where to Start?

There are many resources available, and truly it may seem almost like a jungle out there to find a good online school. DegreeJungle.com has a list of 64 of the best ranked online colleges in 2011.

Colleges were ranked by weighting the following metrics: average net price of attendance, acceptance rate, student-to-faculty ratios, percentage receiving grants or scholarship aid, percentage receiving federal student loans, retention rates, graduation rates, and cohort default rates. To be included, colleges need to offer a selection of 4-year bachelor degree programs online, be accredited and listed on the U.S. Department of Education College Navigator site.

You can also check out their Nursing Degree page to get an idea of some of the online offerings available to nurses.

No More Excuses: You Can Learn Online

The bottom line is that if you have a computer, access to the internet, and the desire to do it, there are no longer any excuses as to why you cannot further your nursing education.

Keep Your Patients’ Best Interest at Heart: Constantly Seek Education

A nurse who has shut herself off from the possibility of learning is a nurse who does not have her patients’ best interest at heart. I am not saying that everyone should have an MSN, or  even a BSN, but I am saying that every nurse should be constantly seeking new information and evidence based practice to support their nursing care. Formal nursing education through online learning is only one of the many ways to facilitate the need to constantly grow and adapt as a nurse.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored. Opinions  stated are my own.