Texas is known for a lot of different things: Texas barbeque, Texas chili, Texas football, etc. But, one of the most important things that stands out from many other states, especially this past summer, is the horrendous heat that comes during the summer months. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), temperatures have risen roughly 1 degree since the first half of the 20th century, and the unprecedented heat is projected to continue.
With these extreme summertime heat waves, it’s important as nursing professionals working in southern states, such as Texas, to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, thousands of American become sick from heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke, and in some cases become fatal.
During this warm season, it’s a good idea for nursing professionals to help spread the word about these heat-related illnesses and how to prevent them. In most cases, it can be prevented by staying hydrated, working in adequate clothing attire, taking frequent breaks, and being able to identify heat illness symptoms as they start to occur.
Although the saying goes something along the lines of “Don’t Mess with Texas”, adding the phrase “or the heat” to the end of it, might make the slogan a little more appropriate during the state’s most hot and humid days.
For each licensure renewal, Board Rule 216.3 requires every nurse to:
complete 20 contact hours of continuing nursing education (CNE) in the nurse’s area of practice within the licensing period OR
demonstrate the achievement, maintenance, or renewal of a Board-approved national nursing certification in the nurse’s area of practice within the licensing period.
First renewal information: A nurse’s initial license is valid for a period of 6 to 29 months, depending on his/her birth month and year and when the initial license is issued. Nurses are exempt from most continuing competency requirements for the first renewal following initial licensure as long as the initial renewal is timely. The only exception is the Forensic Evidence Collection [Board Rule 216.3(d)] targeted continuing education requirement, if it applies based on the nurse’s practice. After the initial licensing period, subsequent licensing periods will be 2 years in length. And, following the initial renewal/very first renewal, nurses need 20 contact hours of Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) in their area of practice or a Board-approved national nursing certification in their area of practice to renew their license each 2-year licensing period.
Special RequirementsNursing Jurisprudence and Nursing Ethics. All nurses must complete at least 2 contact hours of CNE relating to nursing jurisprudence and nursing ethics before the end of every third two-year licensing period (applicable to licensing periods that began on or after January 1, 2014).
The CNE course(s) must contain information related to:
• the Texas Nursing Practice Act,
• the Board's rules (including §217.11, Standards of Nursing Practice),
• the Board's position statements,
• principles of nursing ethics, and
• professional boundaries.
Contact hours completed for this requirement do count towards completion of the 20 contact hours of CNE required for all nurses.
Certification may not be used to fulfill this requirement.
Older Adult or Geriatric Care. Any nurse whose practice includes the older adult or geriatric population is required to complete at least two contact hours in every licensing cycle. The content must include information relating to elder abuse, age-related memory changes and disease processes, including chronic conditions, end-of-life issues, health maintenance, and health promotion. A nurse may choose to complete more than one course in order to cover all content required in the rule.
Forensic Evidence Collection. Any nurse who is employed in an emergency room (ER) setting, including any nurse who could float to an ER or have shifts scheduled in an ER, as well as any nurse employed under contractual, temporary, per diem, agency, traveling, or another employment relationship whose duties include working in an ER must complete at least 2 contact hours of CNE relevant to forensic evidence collection and age- or population-specific nursing interventions that may be required by other laws and/or are necessary in order to assure evidence collection that meets requirements under the Government Code §420.031 regarding use of an Attorney General-approved evidence collection kit and protocol. This is a one-time requirement. (Maintain record of course completion indefinitely, even if you change employment.)
Human Trafficking Prevention. Any nurse who provides direct patient care must complete a human trafficking prevention course that is approved by the Executive Director of Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) that covers identifying and assisting victims of human trafficking before the end of every licensing period (applicable to licensure renewals on or after September 1, 2020). Our course, Human Trafficking, has been approved by Texas Health and Human Services in accordance with House Bill 2059 (2019).
Required Courses Required Courses Not Provided by CEUfastRequirements Disclaimer: Although we try to keep our information as up-to-date as possible, ultimately, it is the responsibility of each individual user to understand and keep up-to-date with the requirements of the license possessed.
Complete all Texas Required RN CEsPhone: 512-305-7400 Fax: 512-305-7401 Website: Visit Site Email: Contact Address: 1801 Congress Avenue, Suite 10-200
Austin, TX 78701-3944
Requirements Disclaimer: Although we try to keep our information as up-to-date as possible, ultimately, it is the responsibility of each individual user to understand and keep up-to-date with the requirements of the license possessed.
National certification or completion of 20 contact hours of CNE relevant to the nurse’s “area of practice.” “Area of practice” is defined as including any activity, assignment, or task performed by the nurse that utilizes nursing knowledge, judgment, or skills.
Special RequirementsPharmacotherapeutics. Any APRN who holds prescriptive authority must complete at least 5 additional contact hours of continuing education in pharmacotherapeutics before the end of every licensing period.
These hours are in addition to the 20 contact hours required for all nurses. (APRNs with prescriptive authority who don't prescribe controlled substances need to complete a total of 25 contact hours of continuing education each licensing period.) Certification may not be used to fulfill this requirement. Category I CNE may be used to fulfill this requirement.
Prescription of Controlled Substances. Any APRN who holds prescriptive authority and prescribes controlled substances must complete at least 4 additional contact hours of continuing education related to prescribing controlled substances before the end of every licensing period. These hours are in addition to the 20 contact hours required for all nurses and the 5 contact hours in pharmacotherapeutics required for APRNs with prescriptive authority. (APRNs with prescriptive authority who prescribe controlled substances need to complete a total of 28 contact hours of continuing education each licensing period.) Certification may not be used to fulfill this requirement. Category I CNE may be used to fulfill this requirement.
Tick Borne Disease. Any APRN whose practice includes the treatment of tick-borne diseases is encouraged to participate in continuing education relating to the treatment of tick-borne diseases. The continuing education course(s) should contain information relevant to treatment of the disease within the APRN's role and population focus area of licensure and may represent a spectrum of relevant medical clinical treatment relating to tick-borne disease. Contact hours completed for this requirement do count towards completion of the 20 contact hours of CNE required for all nurses. Certification may not be used to fulfill this requirement.
Nursing Jurisprudence and Nursing Ethics. All nurses must complete at least 2 contact hours of CNE relating to nursing jurisprudence and nursing ethics before the end of every third two-year licensing period
Older Adult or Geriatric Care. Any nurse whose practice includes older adult or geriatric populations is required to complete at least 2 contact hours of CNE relating to older adult or geriatric populations before the end of every licensing period
Forensic Evidence Collection. Any nurse who is employed in an emergency room (ER) setting, including any nurse who could float to an ER or have shifts scheduled in an ER, as well as any nurse employed under contractual, temporary, per diem, agency, traveling, or another employment relationship whose duties include working in an ER must complete at least 2 contact hours of CNE relevant to forensic evidence collection and age- or population-specific nursing interventions that may be required by other laws and/or are necessary in order to assure evidence collection that meets requirements under the Government Code §420.031 regarding use of an Attorney General-approved evidence collection kit and protocol.
Human Trafficking Prevention. Any nurse who provides direct patient care must complete a human trafficking prevention course that is approved by the Executive Director of Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) that covers identifying and assisting victims of human trafficking before the end of every licensing period (applicable to licensure renewals on or after September 1, 2020).
Required CoursesRequirements Disclaimer: Although we try to keep our information as up-to-date as possible, ultimately, it is the responsibility of each individual user to understand and keep up-to-date with the requirements of the license possessed.
Complete all Texas Required ARNP CEsPhone: 512-305-7400 Fax: 512-305-7401 Website: Visit Site Email: Contact Address: 1801 Congress Avenue, Suite 10-200
Austin, TX 78701-3944
Requirements Disclaimer: Although we try to keep our information as up-to-date as possible, ultimately, it is the responsibility of each individual user to understand and keep up-to-date with the requirements of the license possessed.