Are you a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) in the state of Florida? You may be due for a renewal of your license soon!
In order to maintain your license in Florida, the Florida Board of Nursing requires a renewal biennially (every two years). If you are due for renewal soon, there are some things you need to know about fulfilling your Continuing Education (CE) requirements. In this article, we’re highlighting three key things you need to keep in mind to make the process of renewing your nursing license a breeze.
What are the CE Requirements for Nurses in Florida?
Continuing education for nurses is one way to ensure that they are up-to-date with the latest in care and treatment, allowing them to provide the highest level of care to their patients. In Florida, a minimum of 24 hours of CE hours are required and some specific course topics are mandatory for RNs and LPNs to renew their nursing licenses.
It can be a little confusing since there are different requirements for your first, second, and third renewals. We are going to walk you through what the mandatory courses are, what to expect, and when you need them.
Required Nursing CE for RNs and LPNs
Prevention of Medical Errors (2 hours)
This course is designed to provide an overview of common medical errors, how to prevent them, and why being aware of medical errors is so important in healthcare, particularly with regard to patient safety.
Florida Laws and Rules (2 hours)
An understanding of the current rules and laws that govern a profession is essential to performing the duties correctly, and this is what this course aims to provide. In this course, nurses will learn more about the Nurse Practice Act and the Florida Administrative Code, both of which impact legal practice as a nurse.
Human Trafficking (2 hours):
As the third-largest hub for human trafficking in the US, it is no surprise that a course on human trafficking is a Florida Board of Nursing CEU requirement for RNs and LPNs. Healthcare workers play an essential role in identifying and assisting victims and need to be trained adequately to recognize and respond to such situations.
Impairment in the Workplace (2 hours)
This course is required to be taken every other renewal and focuses on teaching Florida nurses to handle situations associated with impairment due to possible substance use or other reasons in the workplace, including identifying risk factors and signs of impairment, and steps to report or refer someone who may be impaired.
Domestic Violence (2 hours)
This is a required course every third biennium and the hours from this course are in addition to the minimum of 24 hours required to renew a nursing license. In this course, nurses learn to recognize and respond to potential situations of domestic violence such as offering resources to the victim and caring for them with an understanding of risk factors, dynamics, and safety concerns.
HIV/AIDS (1 hour)
Designed to provide Florida nurses with a comprehensive overview and updated information about HIV and AIDS, this course will allow nurses to provide higher standards of care to patients. According to the Florida Board of Nursing, this course is only required on the first renewal of the license.
What are the Florida Nursing License Renewal CEU Requirements?
In addition to the aforementioned courses, Florida nursing CEU requirements mandate an additional 16 hours of general courses. The Florida Board of Nursing requires that these courses be approved by a state or national organization empowered to accredit nursing continuing education.
Your employers may require you to complete agency- or facility-specific CE hours, so be sure to check with your supervisor if you have any additional requirements that need to be fulfilled. Apart from that, nurses can complete their general hours in any topic or field and this can be an excellent opportunity to explore other specialties or areas of nursing.
Additional Nursing CEU Courses Available
Burnout, Chronic Stress, and Suicidality Among Nurses (2 hours) and Suicide Prevention for Healthcare Providers (2 hours)
The American Nurses Association reports that 51% of nurses feel ‘overwhelmed’, while other reports show 93% of healthcare workers experience stress, and 76% report exhaustion and burnout. These are staggering statistics, which is why these courses are excellent options for nurses looking for general courses to meet their nursing CE requirements. Nurses will learn more about risk and protective factors and the best course of action in such situations to ensure their and their fellow colleagues’ wellbeing.
Implicit Bias (2 hours)
How can our beliefs and attitudes towards certain people influence our actions without our conscious knowledge? In this course, nurses will uncover their own implicit biases and understand the impact these unconscious biases may have on how they provide care for patients and subsequently, the outcomes for their patients. They will also be equipped with tools to reduce this impact of implicit bias on the provision of healthcare.
Pediatric Head Trauma (2 hours)
One of the most serious types of child abuse, pediatric head trauma is the primary cause of death and disability in infants and young children in the US, with over 1200 cases annually. By taking this course, nurses will learn more about the risk factors for head injury in children resulting from abuse and how to prevent this from occurring. It is also a particularly useful course for nurses considering entering pediatrics as a specialty or expanding their knowledge in this field.
HIPAA (2 hours)
Patients’ health information is private and should be maintained as such. In this course, nurses learn about the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) which governs the collection, usage, and storage of protected health information, as well as how to be compliant and how these standards are enforced.
OSHA Compliant Bloodborne Pathogens & Infection Control Training (1-5 hours)
Bloodborne pathogens can be dangerous mechanisms for the spread of disease and infections if not handled correctly, and the United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has certain standards and guidelines in place to help with this. Take this training to learn more about bloodborne pathogens, how to handle them, and preventive measures to reduce exposure to ensure your safety.
HIV/AIDS (3 hours)
Need a more extensive understanding of HIV and AIDS? This 3-hour course takes you deep into etiology and epidemiology, transmission and infection control, testing and counseling, and clinical manifestations and treatment for a more complete picture of HIV and AIDS.
These are just a few of the courses available on Premiere Education. For the full list of courses, click here.
Whatever combination of nursing CEs you decide to take to complete the 16-hour requirement, do keep in mind that all of them must be reported to CE Broker for them to count towards your license renewal.
Is Your Renewal Date Approaching?
Depending on which group you belong to, your deadline for renewal may be approaching soon or already past! Log into your account on the Florida Board of Nursing website to check on your renewal deadline. The renewal option is available at least 90 days before your license expiration date.
The current license renewal due dates are:
Group 1 by April 30, 2022
Group 2 by July 31, 2022
Group 3 by April 30, 2023
Worried about completing all of your Florida nursing CEU requirements in time for the due date? We have good news for you! Get all of the courses you need for your nursing license renewal with the Premiere Education Unlimited Nursing CEU Subscription. You’ll save over $100 compared to buying each course individually!
