Ala. Admin. Code r. 610-X-10-.02

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 610-X-10-.02 - Continuing Education General Standards

(1) Licensed nurses shall be individually accountable for continued competence to practice nursing.

(2) The Board of Nursing may prescribe a refresher course for reentry into practice.

(3) Individual requests to verify approval for a specific course or activity may be submitted to a Board-approved provider.

(4) Licensed nurses shall meet continuing education requirements as stated in Rule 610-X-4-.08, Renewal of License.

(5) Pharmacology continuing education hours are required for Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners (CRNP), Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM), Clinical Nurse Specialists, and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA), as stated in Rule 610-X-4-.08, Renewal of License.

(6) The Board-provided continuing education related to statutory and administrative frameworks for nursing regulation, scope of practice, and standards of practice described in § 610-X-4-.08 is required for each licensed nurse for the first license renewal period and may be viewed by any licensed nurse at any time. A licensed nurse may receive continuing education credit for completing any of the required courses once each renewal period.

(7) Failure to comply with continuing education requirements may result in disciplinary action by the Board.

(8) Units of measure for continuing education shall be:

(a) 1 contact hour = 50 minutes

(b) 0.5 contact hour = 25 minutes

(c) 15 contact hours = 1 academic semester credit hour

(d) 10 contact hours = 1 academic quarter credit hour

(e) 1 contact hour = 0.1 continuing education unit (CEU)

(9) The Board may accept contact hours(s) earned from a continuing education provider that uses different units of measurement without conversion.

(10) Continuing education classes and activities may not be repeated within the earning period for credit. A class may be audited (no credit awarded) as allowed by the continuing education provider.

(11) Licensed nurses shall not enter any courses to their individual continuing education record from a Board-approved provider with an ABNP number.

(12) In the case of standard national courses approved by the national organization that established the standardized course, the maximum number of contact hours the Board shall recognize, unless a provider that is Board-approved or Board-recognized awards more, are as follows:

(a) Basic Life Support (BLS): 1.75 hours

(b) Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS): 8 hours

(c) Pediatric Life Support (PALS): 8 hours

(d) Trauma Nurse Core Curriculum (TNCC): 12 hours

(e) Neonatal Resuscitation Provider (NRP): 11 hours

(13) Serving as an appointed facility preceptor for students and/or new hire orientation may be recognized for 8 contact hours.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 610-X-10-.02

Effective March 22, 1991. Amended: August 29, 1994. Amended: May 24, 1996. Repealed and Replaced: Filed January 29,2002; effective March 5, 2002. Amended: Effective November 1, 2004. Repealed and Replaced: Filed February 23, 2009; effective March 30, 2009. Amended: Filed January 25, 2011; effective March 1, 2011.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXIV, Issue No. 05, February 29, 2016, eff. 3/24/2016.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXVI, Issue No. 08, May 31, 2018, eff. 7/2/2018.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXVIII, Issue No. 02, November 29, 2019, eff. 1/13/2020.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXIX, Issue No. 09, June 30, 2021, eff. 8/14/2021.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XL, Issue No. 10, July 29, 2022, eff. 9/1/2022.

Author: Alabama Board of Nursing

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 34-21-2, 34-21-23(f).