Continuing Education is Fundemental to Competent Nursing...

Techniques in the medical field are rapidly changing and growing. With such a huge increase in information, it is crucial that nurses constantly update their skills. One way this can be done is through continuing education. Even though, individual time constraints, work and family priorities, and the availability of classes, may make getting continuing education difficult. However, with continual changes in the field of medicine continuing education for nurses is essential. Nurses need to continue their education in order to be competent and understand new techniques in the health care field as they are always quickly changing. Quality patient care hinges on educated, compassionate, and skilled nurses. It also depends on†¦show more content†¦Therefore, in just five years, half of what a nurse learns in school will be obsolete. There should be no question that, the benefits of continuing education out weight any the of the reasons to forego acquiring/obtaining advance educati on. At present, some states like Georgia there are no continuing educational requirements for licensed practical nurses. In many states it is a nurses responsibility to maintain their competence in the workplace. Hopefully with future improvement in the requirements for continuing education, advancing education will play a significant role in enhancing the quality of nursing care as well as provide nurses with an enriching experience. All the characteristic of professional are crucial to the safe and effective care of patients. â€Å"The fourth characteristic of professionalism in nursing involves continuing education and continued competency† (Nunnery 13). Instruction that is provided in a traditional classroom maybe difficult to attend due to limited space, time constraints, and other priorities. However, technology is enabling nurses who otherwise would not be able, to keep current on the rapidly changing field of medicine and the introduction of new knowledge. Nunnery sta tes that â€Å"opportunities for continuing education abound through a variety of formal programs as well as through professional journals and