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Thursday, April 11th 5pm-7pm. Click HERE & RSVP Today!
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Why Continuing Education is Important for Nursing

These days, a nursing degree can pretty much guarantee you a job. The COVID-19 pandemic and a retiring workforce are leading to a national nursing shortage. 

But to maintain that job, excel at your career, and provide the best patient care you’ll need to continue learning even after graduation. 

Nurses need training in social sciences, mental health issues, humanities, and medical terminology and literacy to understand the problems that may affect their patients.

With ongoing advancements and breakthroughs in medical care, medications, treatments, and techniques, it only makes sense that nurses should receive lifelong training and education. 

Highly trained nurses can offer comfort and care services and help their patients maintain and improve their quality of life. With the care of many of our loved ones in the hands of these professionals, it’s ideal to have a more educated nursing workforce.

Learn more about continuing education courses, the benefits of continuing a nursing education program, nursing careers in senior living communities, and why you should apply to The Kensington Sierra Madre.

Different approaches to nursing education

There are various paths to becoming a nurse, but the most common include the following.  

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

After completing your bachelor’s degree at a University or traditional college, you can earn your registered nurse (RN) degree after successfully passing the NCLEX licensing exam.

Associate’s degree in nursing 

Through an accredited and licensed program, you can achieve your associate’s degree in nursing and then your RN after passing the NCLEX test. You would then hold an advanced nursing degree (ADN-RN).

RN diploma program

You will have your RN diploma upon completing this program. It includes clinical hours that will prepare you to take and pass the NCLEX exam. 

The program you choose will depend on the type of degree you want to earn and the career you are working towards. While each is a nursing degree, they are not created equal. 

For instance, if your goal is to become a nurse practitioner or certified nurse anesthetist, an associate’s degree may not be the path for you.

What is nursing continuing education?

Continued education in nursing is generally required in most states to help nurses increase their knowledge and skills by brushing up on their old skills and staying up to date. 

Whether a nurse receives training annually, biannually, or every three years, it’s essential for professional development and for providing exceptional care services.

Even if you live in a state where it isn’t mandatory to continue your education, it may be required by your employer—and it may be the difference in getting hired or promoted. 

Many nurses enjoy expanding their knowledge as it helps them advance in their careers and achieve other titles such as nurse practitioner, nurse educator, and nurse anesthetist, which usually come with a pay raise.

By keeping your nursing knowledge up to date, you can maintain your nursing credentials and improve your skills, which means you can improve the care you give to your patients and the public.

The most common sources for continuing nursing education are courses, conferences, and webinars. 

With technology and e-learning, continuing education (CE courses), continuing nursing education (CNE), and continuing education units (CEUs) are simple to find and complete.

Why is continuing education important for nurses?

For the sake of patients everywhere, it’s important to have a well-educated nursing workforce. But community health is just one of the factors in the importance of nurse education.

With technological advances occurring frequently, ongoing training is necessary to adapt to advancements and offer the best care to patients. 

As procedures change, professional nurses must develop new skills to provide the safest, most effective, and highest quality care. 

State laws may change over time, meaning the requirements to be a licensed nurse may change. Staying up to date ensures you have the proper credentials to do your job legally and confidently. 

The more CE courses you take and the more titles you take on can increase your salary and qualify you for a higher position. 

Continuing nursing education can also help you gain knowledge in a specialty you are interested in, such as cardiology, pediatrics, geriatrics, rehabilitation services, nutrition, or medical surgery.

Nursing careers in senior living: an opportunity to serve a greater purpose

If you’re a compassionate nurse, healthcare professional, or working towards a healthcare degree, you may be interested in working at an assisted living or memory care community. 

When you serve and care for older adults in senior communities, you can form meaningful relationships with them and make a positive difference in their lives. 

It can be an enriching career that offers a sense of purpose as you watch residents make friends, enjoy life-enrichment activities, progress in therapy, and improve their quality of life. 

Some nurses enjoy working with the same people daily, rather than in a hospital or medical care setting where they never get to bond with or know their patients.

Each day at a senior living community will be exciting and new when working with older adults, and the stories they share can offer you valuable life lessons and laughs.

Apply to The Kensington Sierra Madre and become part of a team that feels like family 

If you enjoy helping others and making a positive impact in their lives, working at an assisted living or memory care community can be a rewarding job for you. 

Our team of healthcare professionals assists and supports fully independent residents and those with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other diseases requiring a high amount of care. 

Many who find helping older adults to be a meaningful experience choose a career in senior living communities rather than a medical center to help them achieve their personal and professional goals.

Our Promise is to love and care for our residents, and we do our own family, and we live out that promise for our employees too. 

At The Kensington Sierra Madre, we offer our employees: 

  • Competitive salaries 
  • Health, life, 401K & other benefits starting at 32 hrs/wk
  • Generous paid time off
  • Employee assistance program 
  • Complimentary lunches & dinners

Contact us or check out our blog to learn more about our communities, events, volunteer opportunities, partners, and careers, to learn if The Kensington Sierra Madre is the perfect fit for you.

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