Key Takeaways
- Continuing education gives nurses steady clinical updates and helps them maintain the credit hours needed for license renewal.
- CE appears in multiple formats, so nurses can choose what best fits their routine.
- Required subjects and minimum hours vary by state, which makes early review of board rules an important first step.
- Accreditation and proper certification matter, since only approved providers meet renewal standards for 2026.
- The CE catalog expands each year as new material is released, giving nurses more focused or specialty-aligned options.
A nursing continuing education course provides nurses with updated clinical knowledge and stronger professional habits. These courses also help them accumulate the credits they need for license renewal. You will see programs centered on life support skills, more focused modules on infection control, or highly specialized courses in fetal monitoring or oncology. The 2026 catalog grows each month as providers release new material for evolving care standards.
This article will give you a clear explanation of what CE means and how it works. You will also find a list of courses that will add real value to your education. If you're a nursing student who has to balance clinical hours with academic deadlines, you can rely on EssayPro to take some pressure off your shoulders so you can focus on patient care.
What Does Continuing Education For Nurses Mean?
Continuing education is a structured learning system that provides nurses with new information after they have received their license. This process is necessary to keep your skills up-to-date, so you can make safe decisions and meet the ongoing expectations set by state boards. The goal is simple: nurses use CE so they stay competent as healthcare changes. Here’s what continuing education courses for nursing usually look like:
- Online modules that divide lessons into smaller sections
- Workshops that focus on practical techniques
- Conferences that share new research and policy updates
- Peer-reviewed content that adds academic depth
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Choosing the Right Nursing Continuing Education Course
The choice is definitely not easy with so many courses around. You will be able to move through all these options with more confidence when you have a short plan. These steps keep everything on track:
- Identify the professional gaps you want to strengthen. Add areas you want to improve, such as patient communication, medication updates, or specialty-specific skills.
- Check the nursing continuing education requirements in your state. Each board lists mandatory subjects and minimum contact hours on its website.
- Confirm that the provider holds proper accreditation and gives out the certification you need. Approved providers appear in state board directories.
- Read the syllabus to understand the depth and format of the material. Look for learning goals, lesson structure, and testing requirements.
- Look at the schedule and confirm it fits your routine. Check estimated completion time and access limits.
- Track the remaining CE hours needed for your 2026 renewal cycle. Keep a simple record so nothing slips past the deadline.
Top Nursing Continuing Education Courses
Top online courses for nursing continuing education cover many areas, and the strongest options feel practical. Programs about breast cancer, the aftermath of COVID-19, and patient-centered care are some of the most popular options for nursing students today. Below, we'll take a closer look at 15 online courses to help you improve your qualifications. In the meantime, if you need professional nursing essay help, EssayPro is always in your corner.
Bloodborne Pathogens Training
Nurses can be exposed to infectious materials during the simplest tasks. This course describes each transmission route in plain language, so you can learn the safety habits that lower the risks of infections. The lessons also cover OSHA rules to make sure every nurse understands the legal standards for a safe workspace. It works well for new staff and for anyone who wants a steady refresher.
- Course type: self-study online
- Price: $18.00
- Hours: 2 contact hours
Pathophysiology: The Hepatobiliary System
Break down the common and uncommon conditions of the liver, gallbladder, and biliary tract. The lessons walk nurses through how these organs work and why certain disorders appear. You also see how patients usually present in real settings. The course covers diagnostic tools and treatment options, enabling stronger clinical reasoning in complex hepatobiliary cases.
- Course type: online self-study
- Price: $90
- Hours: 15 ANCC Hours + 3 PHARM Hours
Breast Cancer: Types, Treatment, and Survivorship Care
There are many different forms of breast cancer, and this course explains them in a clear, step-by-step way. It walks nurses through staging, treatment paths, and the needs patients face at each point in care. Survivorship planning is at the center of the lessons. The course also includes guidance for end-of-life support, which helps nurses see the full arc of a patient’s experience.
- Course type: online self-study
- Price: $30.00
- Hours: 4 ANCC Hours + 1 PHARM Hours
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): Causes, Treatment, and Complications
This course shows how chronic kidney disease develops and why it progresses over time. It explains the treatments patients often receive and the complications nurses watch for at each stage. The lessons make lab values and symptom patterns easier to understand. They also highlight long-term care needs, so patients feel more confident in their everyday decisions and in the education they receive.
- Course type: online self-study
- Price: $24
- Hours: 3 contact hours
Diabetes Care: Prevention and Clinical Care of Diabetic Foot Ulcers
The content of this course focuses on diabetic foot ulcers and the steps that reduce risk in high-risk patients. It explains signs that appear early, wound-care principles that protect tissue, and the follow-up patterns that keep patients stable. The course also shows how interdisciplinary care improves outcomes, so nurses understand their role within a broader care plan.
- Course type: online module
- Price: $47
- Hours: 9 Contact Hours + 6.75 Case Management Contact Hours
Supplements for Aging
This course describes how supplements are used among older adults and why nurses need clear knowledge of their benefits and risks. It explains how age-related changes influence absorption and interactions. The lessons help nurses give grounded guidance while respecting patient preferences and safety. The material stays practical and easy to apply during routine care.
- Course type: online self-study
- Price: $30.00
- Hours: 5 ANCC Hours + 5 PHARM Hours
Pharmacologic and Medical Advances in Obesity Management
This course examines evolving medical treatments for obesity and explains how newer medications fit into current care plans. It reviews patient selection, dosing expectations, and monitoring needs. The material also explores the broader medical factors that influence weight-management strategies, so nurses leave with a strong foundation for patient counseling and safe medication handling.
- Course type: online self-study
- Price: $90.00
- Hours: 15 ANCC Hours + 12 PHARM Hours
Intercultural Competence and Patient-Centered Care
This course helps nurses work with confidence in culturally varied settings. It explains how beliefs, communication styles, and values shape patient decisions. The lessons offer practical approaches for respectful assessment, clear explanations, and shared planning. The goal is simple. Nurses learn to build trust and deliver care that matches each patient’s background and needs.
- Course type: online self-study
- Price: $24.00
- Hours: 4 Contact Hours
Pressure Injuries and Skin Care
This course teaches nurses completing continuing education how pressure injuries form and how to prevent them in everyday practice. It explains staging, wound characteristics, and treatment options in detail. The lessons include assessment steps that support consistent documentation and early intervention. Nurses gain a stronger sense of what keeps skin stable in fragile or immobile patients.
- Course type: online self-study
- Price: $30
- Hours: 5 ANCC Hours + 5 CCMC Hours
Aging and Long-Term Care
This online nursing continuing education course explores the needs of older adults across long-term care settings. It explains functional changes, chronic conditions, and the patterns that shape daily routines. Nurses learn how to support comfort and dignity for residents. The lessons also show how team communication improves outcomes in environments that rely on coordinated care.
- Course type: online self-study
- Price: $18.00
- Hours: 3 ANCC Hours + 2 CCMC Hours
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COVID-19: The Impact of a Pandemic on Mental Health
A global outbreak can shift the emotional ground under patients, families, and healthcare professionals in a way few situations can. This free nursing continuing education course looks closely at those shifts. It explains the stress responses and behavioral changes seen during COVID-19 and shows how to support people through those reactions. Nurses gain practical steps for identifying early warning signs and offering steady, grounded care.
- Course type: online self-study
- Price: free
- Hours: 1 contact hour
Metabolic Syndrome: Risk, Diagnosis, and Treatment
The course covering metabolic syndrome comes in several parts: it starts by covering the early signs of this condition, and the rest builds on that foundation. Nurses learn the patterns that appear in lab work and the factors that increase risk. Treatment approaches are presented in simple terms. The course aims to help nurses guide steady, realistic changes in patient care.
- Course type: online self-study
- Price: $15.00
- Hours: 1.5 contact hours
Stroke: Comprehensive Acute Stroke Care
Urgent stroke situations require quick thinking, so the course teaches everything in a simple and clear manner. It covers the first symptoms nurses watch for, the assessments that shape the care plan, and the complications that can follow. Rehabilitation enters the discussion once the patient reaches early stability.
- Course type: online self-study
- Price: $49.00
- Hours: 9 contact hours + 6.75 Case Management Contact Hours + 0.25 Pharmacotherapeutic Hours
What All Nurses Need to Know About Pregnant and Postpartum Patients
Every nurse eventually has to care for pregnant or postpartum patients. Anyone in this field can tell you how demanding it can be. This course lays out the essentials: early warning signs, common complications, and the interventions that support safety. The practical material helps nurses be more prepared for these patients.
- Course type: online self-study
- Price: $18.00
- Hours: 2 contact hours
Wound Care
Wound management is easier when you learn the basics step by step. This course explains the healing phases and the factors that delay recovery, so nurses can apply simple routines to both acute and chronic wounds. The goal is steady improvement in daily and long-term outcomes.
- Course type: online self-study
- Price: $49.00
- Hours: 11 Contact Hours + 1 Pharmacotherapeutic Hour
Check out some of the best nursing scholarships for different needs and backgrounds.
Final Thoughts on Nursing CE
Nursing continuing education keeps your skills sharp. Renewing your qualifications is especially important in the medical field because the landscape constantly changes. The courses we mentioned in this article approach nursing from different angles, giving you a more well-rounded professional education.
Students who are continuing professional development while still having to write papers often need extra support. EssayPro becomes especially useful in moments like this. On our platform, future nurses can ask an expert to finish their papers or even see nursing case studies examples so they can easily learn to draft on their own.
FAQs
What Are the Best Nursing Continuing Education Courses for 2026?
How Can I Choose the Right Nursing Continuing Education Course?
Are Both In-Person and Online Nursing CE Courses Valid?
How Many Hours Does a Nursing CE Course Offer?
Which Nursing CE Courses Do I Need for License Renewal?
Adam Jason
is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.
- Nurse Journal. (2020, June 3). The Nurse’s Continuing Education Toolkit. NurseJournal. https://nursejournal.org/resources/nurses-continuing-education-guide/
- Continuing Education Special Offers Nurses. (2025). NetCE. https://www.netce.com/continuing-education/nurse/
- Guide To Continuing Education For Nurses. (2024, October 22). Western Governors University; https://www.wgu.edu/blog/continuing-education-nurses2011.html
