Continuing education is an important part of any healthcare professional’s career. You may be required to complete CEU classes as part of employment or to remain licensed or certified within your chosen field.
There’s no beating the convenience, flexibility, and general affordability of online healthcare continuing education. In an industry where nearly every practitioner has a CE requirement to fulfill, online learning opportunities make it easier to stay knowledgeable. MedTrainer is an enterprise-grade healthcare learning management system that offers hundreds of CEU classes. Below you will find the 10 most popular over the past year — collectively, they have been completed more than 30,000 times during the same period.
What Is Continuing Education Credit?
Healthcare continuing education involves the continuous learning, training, and professional development necessary for healthcare providers to renew their licenses and sustain their knowledge, skills, and competencies throughout their careers. This education can include online courses, workshops, conferences, seminars, academic writing, research, and hands-on training. A predetermined number of continuing education credit hours is required to receive or renew healthcare accreditations and licensure.
The acronyms CE, CME, and CEUs are all related to healthcare continuing education. Although the labels are often interchanged, they have different meanings and are used in various contexts.
- Continuing Education (CE). CE is a broad term for any continuing education a person pursues for career skill development. The requirements for CE vary depending on the profession and may be mandated by licensing boards or professional organizations. CE credits must be provided by an accredited organization, such as the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the American Association of Medical Assistants.
- Continuing Medical Education (CME). Continuing medical education is delivered by accredited CME providers and explicitly designed for physicians and other medical professionals. Many states require a specific number of CMEs for each license renewal cycle.
- Continuing Education Units (CEUs). CEUs are a standardized way of quantifying continuing education. One CEU typically equals 10 contact hours of participation in an organized CE activity. CEUs are required for many roles in the healthcare field, including nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, and more.
MedTrainer Top 10 Most Popular CEU Classes
MedTrainer has developed hundreds of continuing education courses that are included with a subscription to the learning management system. Several also count as regulatory training, which means you can satisfy federal and/or state requirements while earning CE credit. Some CEU classes that meet state education requirements include cultural competency, human trafficking, and DEI.
Rank | Course Description |
1 | Cultural Competencies for Healthcare Professionals
This course is designed to help provide a thorough understanding of specific cultural barriers, which will help develop effective strategies for healthcare professionals to become culturally competent. It meets the State of Nevada Cultural Competency Training, required by health care facility staff; standards NRS 449.103. |
2 | Age Specific Competencies
Focused on the growth and development markers specific for patients within each age group and the competencies required for care of these age groups. |
3 | OSHA – Radiation Orientation and Safe Work Practices
Designed to equip healthcare workers who handle or may have potential exposure to radioactive substances with knowledge of safety practices for exposure and injury prevention. This course satisfies OSHA requirements. |
4 | State Regulation – Human Trafficking and the Role of Healthcare Professionals
This course is designed to equip health professionals with the knowledge to identify victims of human trafficking, discuss at-risk groups and populations for exploitation, and address the statistics and prevalence of this criminal industry within the United States. |
5 | Healthcare Waste Management Series: Identification & Management of Hazardous Waste & Pharmaceuticals
This course provides an overview of hazardous waste, including hazardous pharmaceuticals, typically found in healthcare organizations, healthcare professionals, and staff who may encounter them. |
6 | Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
This course covers how workplace diversity, inclusion, and belonging can be created and promoted. |
7 | The COVID-19 Virus and Other Coronaviruses
This course will provide an overview of the coronavirus, discuss its signs, symptoms, and mode of transmission, review the timeline of the COVID-19 virus, and review the management of a person suspected of having the virus. |
8 | Risk Management and Patient Safety
Participants will thoroughly understand the importance of risk management in reducing adverse events, errors, and system failures to protect patients, staff, and the healthcare facility. The material aligns with patient care guidelines and aims to improve care practices and achieve optimal patient outcomes while adhering to reimbursement rates set by the CMS for Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries. |
9 | CMS – Documentation Standards for Medical Records
This is designed to equip health professionals with best practices related to medical record documentation standards and meets Centers for Medicare and Medicaid requirements. |
10 | Cultural Diversity for All Members of the Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Team
The development of cultural competency is based on ongoing efforts to reduce or eliminate stereotypes and assumptions. These tend to devalue and categorize people according to a person’s perspectives and values. |
Benefits of Employer-Offered Continuing Education
Healthcare organizations can build staff knowledge and expertise by paying for continuing education courses for their employees. Below are a few ways healthcare organizations benefit from providing employee CE courses.
Helps Maintain Licensure
CEU classes are required for nearly every healthcare role. By offering these courses, employers are making it easier for employees to complete their training at their convenience, without the worry that the employee will miss a licensing deadline.
Improves Talent Attraction and Retention
Providing CEU classes at no cost to employees is a distinct benefit that will encourage them to remain with your organization and help you attract top talent. It can also be a significant cost savings for employees.
Reduces Schedule Disruptions
It’s pretty disruptive when an employee suddenly realizes they need time off to complete CE requirements. Providing courses, especially online, reduces this potential disruption to normal operations. When the courses are available, such as when the employee completes annual compliance training, it is even easier for everyone.
MedTrainer Learning offers more than 300 continuing education courses as part of a comprehensive learning management system. Learn more.