N.M. Admin. Code § 16.12.2.10

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 24, December 23, 2024

Section 16.12.2.10 - CONTINUING EDUCATION

A. Introduction:

(1) Pursuant to the provision of the Nursing Practice Act, the board of nursing prescribes the following regulations establishing requirements for CE to be met by the licensee to protect the health and well-being of the citizens of New Mexico and to promote current nursing knowledge and practice.

(2) Philosophy of CE: The members of the New Mexico board believe that CE is one of the most important responsibilities of the nurse and is a lifelong process. The primary responsibility for CE rests with the individual nurse. A diversity of nursing-related learning activities is recommended to enhance the scope of professional development.

B. Requirements and rules:

(1) Records:

(a) All licensees must indicate compliance with the CE required by these rules on the renewal application. All information must be completed as requested.

(b) Licensees are responsible for maintaining their own CE records and for keeping the certificates of verification of attendance of CE activities for at least one year after the license is renewed. Photocopies of certificates must be submitted to the board office only if audited and requested.

(2) CE Audit:

(a) Continuing education records are subject to audit by the board.

(b) Licensee may be subject to disciplinary action by the board if non-compliant within 60 days of the first notification of audit.

(c) When audited, CE may be prorated to commensurate with the length of the renewal period.

C. Approved continuing education:. To be acceptable in New Mexico, the CE activity must have been approved by a recognized approval body and must enhance the licensee's scope of professional development as related to his/her activities in nursing. The participant must receive a certificate of attendance which validates the number of approved CE hours awarded, name of the participant, sponsoring agency, approval body and date attended. Correspondence courses and home-study programs are acceptable, if approved.

(1) Recognized approval bodies for CE for nurses.

(a) National or state recognized nursing organizations.

(b) Other state boards of nursing.

(c) New Mexico board-approved local monitoring systems.

(2) Other CE which may be accepted as approved CE for nurses:

(a) academic credit, computation: one academic credit equals 15 contact hours;

(b) CE units (CEUs) or contact hours awarded by CE divisions within educational institutions of higher learning;

(c) educational offerings approved through other generally recognized health care or professional organizations as related to licensee's nursing practice.

D. Monitoring system: CE hours accrued through educational offerings approved by a local monitoring system shall be accepted as meeting the CE requirements for licensure in New Mexico but may not be accepted by other state boards of nursing as approved CE.

(1) Local monitoring systems must be approved initially and annually by the board of nursing. A guideline for the establishment and operation of a local monitoring system is available in the board office.

(2) The approval of educational offerings shall be determined on the approval criteria developed by the board.

E. Certification or recertification in the registered nursing specialty area: Certification or recertification granted by a national professional organization which uses criteria designed to recognize competence in a specialized area of nursing practice may be used as approved CE. Verification of certification or recertification within the current renewal period is accepted in lieu of the 30 hours of CE required for licensure.

N.M. Admin. Code § 16.12.2.10

Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXVII, Issue 17, September 15, 2016, eff. 10/1/2016, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXVIII, Issue 17, September 12, 2017, eff. 9/12/2017, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXIX, Issue 08, April 24, 2018, eff. 5/3/2018, Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXIII, Issue 23, December 13, 2022, eff. 12/13/2022