There are a lot of renewal requirements for nurses in Nevada, so it’s easy to miss out on some things.
We don’t want you to be stressing over this, that’s why we’ve come up with a comprehensive guide to help you out.
All nurses in Nevada must fulfill specific CE requirements. However, these vary depending on the type of license you carry.
Whether you’re a CNA, an RN, an LPN, or an APRN, you’ll find everything you need to know about nursing CE requirements in Nevada in this article.
Ready to know more? Let’s begin!
Nevada Nursing CE Requirements
If you’re in a rush, here’s a brief summary table you can refer to:
| Type | Requirement |
| CNA(Certified Nurse Assistant) | 24 CE hours every 2 years 40 practice hours within 24 months |
| LPN(Licensed Practical Nurse) | 30 CE hours every 2 years * must include 2-hour cultural competency course One time requirement only — 4 hours on bioterrorism |
| RN(Registered Nurse) | 30 CE hours every 2 years * must include 2-hour cultural competency course One time requirement only — 4 hours on bioterrorism |
| APRN(Advanced Practical Registered Nurse) | 45 CE hours every 2 years * 30 hours similar to RNs * Additional 15 hours for their chosen specialty If with prescribing authority — 2 hours must be on misuse and abuse of controlled substances. One-time requirement only — 4 hours on bioterrorism Every 4 years only — 2 hours on suicide prevention For renewals on or after January 1, 2024 only — 2 hours on screening, brief intervention, and treatment approach to substance abuse disorder, |
If you want a more extensive guide about the various CE requirements of nurses in Nevada, we’ve detailed everything in the succeeding sections.
Nevada CNA Continuing Education Requirements
Certified Nurse Assistants are the only ones who need CE and practice hours to get their certification renewed.
You must have at least 40 hours of paid work as a nurse’s aide in Nevada. On top of this, you need to complete 24 hours of continuing education.
There are no mandatory courses for CNAs. This means you can select your subjects, but these should be related to your role as a CNA.
And, although it isn’t mandatory to complete a 4-hour course on bioterrorism, the Board of Nursing strongly encourages it.
Nevada LPN Continuing Education Requirements
Licensed Practical Nurses in Nevada do not have required practice hours as part of their renewal prerequisites. So, you only need to focus your energy on completing CE requirements.
In total, you need to complete 30 contact hours every 2 years to renew your LPN license.
Note that the regulations for Nevada changed earlier this year.
Licensees for renewal must have 2 hours on cultural competency. It will be part of your 30 hours, not additional ones.
Also part of the 30 hours is a 4-hour course on bioterrorism. Unlike other CE courses, you only need to take this once.
You don’t need to retake it biennially, so it’s best to keep your certificate in case of an audit. Make sure you find a board-approved provider to avoid complications.
The bioterrorism course must adhere to content requirements. If you want to see what these are, you can refer to our FAQ section.
Now, if you graduated less than 24 months ago, you don’t need to fulfill these CE requirements except for the 4-hour bioterrorism course.
Nevada RN Continuing Education Requirements
Registered Nurses in Nevada have similar requirements to LPNs.
You need 30 CE hours every 2 years to have your license renewed.
If you haven’t gone through the 4-hour bioterrorism course, there’s no better time to take it than now.
For one, it’s a one-time requirement, so once you’ve finished, you won’t have to retake it for future renewals. Second, it counts towards your 30 hours.
Another mandatory requirement is the 2-hour course on cultural competency.
The rest of the courses are electives, allowing you to take topics you find most relevant. Just make sure that the course provider is approved by the Nevada State Board of Nursing.
Nevada APRN Continuing Education Requirements
Remember, all Advanced Practice Registered Nurses in Nevada have to carry active RN licenses. So when it comes to renewals, you’ll have to make sure you fulfill all RN requirements.
APRNs have a requirement of 45 hours of continuing education. The first 30 counts towards your RN license, while the additional 15 must be directly related to your specialization.
Similar to LPNs and RNs, you also need to go through a 4-hour course on bioterrorism. Again, it is a one-time requirement, so you won’t have to retake it for each renewal cycle.
Now, let’s move on to CE requirements specific to APRNs.
You need to complete a 2-hour suicide prevention course within the first 2 years of initial licensure. You must retake it every 4 years afterward.
You must also have 2 contact hours on substance use and abuse for each renewal cycle IF you prescribe medication.
Requirements for APRNs in Nevada will change in the future. For example, if you need to renew your license on or after January 1, 2024, you must have at least 2 hours of screening, intervention, and treatment approach to substance use disorder. These will also count towards the required 45 CE requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I keep my certificates?
The Nevada State Board of Nursing recommends keeping your continuing education certificates for at least 4 years. However, since you are only required to take the bioterrorism course once, you might want to store it for the duration of your career.
Although the nursing board no longer requires you to submit your past certificates when you renew, it’s best to have them with you if they conduct an audit.
What happens if I’m audited and I cannot produce my certificates?
Remember, you affirm that you’ve complied with the continuing requirements in Nevada when you renew your license.
If you become part of a random audit and can’t produce the necessary documents to back up your oath, you might receive disciplinary action. These can range from denial of your license, paying a reprimand fee, suspension, probation, or having your license or certification revoked.
What must the 4-hour bioterrorism course cover for it to meet requirements?
When you choose a bioterrorism course, make sure it includes the following areas:
- An overview of different acts of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction
- Personal protective equipment (PPEs) needed for acts of terrorism
- Common symptoms and treatments to various agents (chemical, biological, radioactive, or nuclear) if exposed
- Surveillances and reporting procedures for acts of terrorism involving biological agents
- Overview of the information available on the Health Alert Network and how to use it
More than this, you need to ensure your provider is Board-approved. If they’re not, you can’t count them towards your CE requirements.
What should the course on cultural competency include?
The Nevada Cultural Competency website shares the complete list of required topics for the cultural competency course. These include implicit bias, indirect discrimination, barriers to care, and discriminatory language and behavior.
Conclusion
Whew!
Wasn’t that a lot?
Keeping track of your CE requirements can be a tedious task, but now you can always refer back to this guide if you need to confirm something.
And, if you’re renewal period is fast approaching, you now know what to do.
We hope that this article has been a great help.