New Continuing Education rules proposed

The Texas BON has proposed new continuing education rules. These rules make some significant changes to continuing education requirements. According to the Board:

"Under the proposed new chapter, a nurse is authorized to demonstrate continuing competency through the achievement, maintenance, or renewal of an approved national nursing certification in the nurse's area of practice, as well as through the completion of continuing education courses. Recognizing this additional method of compliance provides nurses with the option of pursuing and maintaining a certification in a specific area of practice."

"The proposed new chapter also requires a nurse to demonstrate continuing competency in the nurse's specific area of practice. A continuing competency activity should incorporate and relate to the knowledge, skills, or activities performed or required by the nurse in his or her area of practice. In the case of a nurse educator, the Board anticipates that continuing competency activities related to nursing education should meet the requirements of the proposed new chapter." It is not clear how the Board is going to apply this to a nurse who does not have a specific area of practice. The time period to comment on the rules is until June 14th.