Finally becoming the nurse you’ve always dreamed of being and landing a job are truly fantastic feelings. You obtain the blessing of saving lives and bettering the lives of others every day you work. However, there may come a point in time where you ask yourself, as a nurse, should I continue my education? While there are definitely cons to doing so, there are also many pros that not only benefit yourself but many others as well. Thus, continuing nursing education is a fantastic option, no matter where you are in the field.
Reasons to Continue Your Nursing Education
There are reasons why continuing education is incredibly important to yourself and those you work with. One of the most prominent reasons is improved patient care. While furthering your education in the nursing field, you in turn learn additional techniques to improve the care of your patients. Patient outcomes are one of the most important, if not the most important factor when working in a healthcare facility. Those you work to help will be incredibly grateful for your dedication.
For certified nursing assistants (CNAs) to become registered nurses (RNs), there is an array of different routes you can take to achieve this goal and it is ultimately your choice what you would like to do to continue your education. However, one of the fastest and most efficient ways to go about this is to enroll in a CNA-to-RN bridge program, which will allow you to earn your associate degree in nursing in as little as one year! Additionally, programs just like this exist for licensed professional nurses (LPNs) who wish to become RNs, as well as there are many options for RNs who wish to become CRNAs, CNPs, and more.
Should I Specialize as a Nurse?
While continuing nursing education is already an amazing option for those looking to expand their horizons - some nurses end up choosing specialization as their final goal. Becoming certified in a specific nursing specialty can provide heaps of benefits to yourself and your patients. Specializing, of course, demonstrates a depth of knowledge in whatever area you are focused on. Obtaining a nursing certification for a certain specialty also contributes to personal and professional growth. One of the most important factors of any job is taking pride in what you do. Your own happiness will improve the outcomes of those you assist. Taking this positive step for yourself can inspire others to do the same.
Just as with any education, becoming certified takes tons of time for studying, as well as takes funds and a desire to learn. In order to become certified in a specific specialty, you must meet a few requirements. You must have a certain amount of college education, a current and unrestricted license as an RN, and must have completed a minimum number of work hours in your specialty practice area. Although it is quite a bit of work, if you are highly considering a specialty certification, don’t wait for anything or anyone! Begin your studies and plan a testing date, the patients you help will commend you for your dedication and care.
Benefits of Continuing Nursing Education
There are a plethora of benefits to continuing your nursing education, you truly won’t regret deciding to do so. Additionally, many states require nurses to complete a certain number of continuing education (CE) hours annually, so this would assist in keeping your nursing license if you do live in one of those states. Furthermore, a large number of employers have education as a sizable factor in their employee evaluations, this means higher education could lead to a possibly larger raise.
Continuing on, having a larger education means that you will be a more reliable source of information for your patients and colleagues. While you are working it’s no doubt that patients and peers will ask you questions, it is definitely important that you’re able to provide them with the most accurate and reliable information. This being known, completing nursing CE credits will undoubtedly assist you with staying up to date with current information. The healthcare field is ever-changing with new technology and methods used in everyday care.
What are the Challenges to Continuing Nursing Education?
Whilst there are many benefits to continuing your nursing education and it is definitely worth it to do so. It’s always important to take into consideration what the most significant challenges will be on your new education journey.
One of the significant challenges is the expense. There are many different factors that can come into expense, such as the possibility of requiring the purchase of new equipment or retraining personnel. Additionally, like anything, education can be very time-consuming. You must be prepared to change your schedule and possibly sacrifice more time towards continuing your learning experience.
