Renewal
What is the difference between CEU and contact hours?
Continuing education hours, continuing education units, and contact hours are all methods of measuring education hours. Below is the breakdown from the American Nurse CredentialingCenter. Remember that continuing education hours must be approved by or provided by an organization on the Board's Competency Requirement Criteria to be used forlicensure/renewal. Continuing education is just one of the four options available to you to document competency.
- 1 contact hour = 60 minutes
- 1 CME = 60 minutes or 1.0 contact hours
- 1 contact hour = 0.1 CEU
- 1 CEU = 10 contact hours
Practice
Are LPNs supervised by RNs or Physicians?
Licensed practical nurses work under the supervision or direction of an RN, physician, or dentist. What this means is that a practical nurse receives guidance for accomplishing a specific nursing task or activity. The registered nurse, physician or dentist may also periodically inspect or witness the performance of a delegated activity. The person who is doing the supervising delegates appropriate tasks and skills to qualified LPNs. A good example is when a registered nurse delegates the administration of intravenous medication to a practical nurse. The supervising RN must ensure that the licensed practical nurse has been properly trained and is capable of performing the skill.
Licensure
What is the Nurse Licensure Compact?
The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) is a mutual recognition model of nurse licensure that allows a nurse to have one license, issued by the state in which the nurse claims primary residence, and to practice in all states that have entered into the interstate compact (multistate licensure). The nurse is subject to each state's practice laws and discipline but does not have to meet separate licensure eligibility requirements for each state.
Exam
Requirements for Initial Licensure
An applicant for initial licensure must pass the appropriate National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) prescribed by the South Carolina Board of Nursing. The applicant shall comply with all application procedures established by the governing body of the NCLEX and by the board. Applications for licensure are valid for one year from the date of filing with the board. An applicant who fails to attain licensure during this period shall submit a new application with the prescribed fee. All examination applicants must complete and submit the South Carolina Application for Licensure by Examination to the South Carolina Board of Nursing and register with the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for license examination using the form provided in the Candidate Bulletin. An applicant who does not pass the licensure examination on the first attempt may retake the examination not more frequently than once every forty-five days for up to one year from the first attempt. You may file the South Carolina Application for Licensure by Examination, and register with NCLEX prior to completing your program.
Education
LPN Training Program Structure
Most year-long practical nursing programs include both classroom study and supervised clinical practice (patient care). Classroom study covers basic nursing concepts and subjects related to patient care, including anatomy, physiology, medical-surgical nursing, pediatrics, obstetrics nursing, pharmacology, nutrition, and first aid. Clinical practice usually takes place in a hospital but sometimes includes other settings.
Career
Is this field for me?
Some of the main characteristics of a nurse are: a willingness to help others, being eager to learn how things work, and being a team player. A practical nursing program requires completing courses in anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology. These science courses give nurses the knowledge they need to practice and care for their clients. Practical nurses help others by caring for them when they are ill. Empathy, understanding, and knowledge are what patients need to maintain or improve their well-being and quality of life. Being a member of today's health care system requires that you work as a team player and get along well with other health care professionals. As a licensed practical nurse you may be in charge of certified nursing assistants and you will work under the supervision of registered nurses and physicians. In addition, you must effectively work and communicate with various other health professionals such as physical, occupational and respiratory therapists.
Organizations
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) mission is to produce evidence to make health care safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable, and to work within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and with other partners to make sure that the evidence is understood and used.
National Council of State Boards of Nursing
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is a not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to provide an organization through which boards of nursing act and counsel together on matters of common interest and concern affecting the public health, safety and welfare, including the development of licensing examinations in nursing.