DID YOU KNOW? As an independent newspaper - Oklahoma's Nursing Times print edition is distributing every week to more than 40,000 RNs and LPNs. STUDENTS IN EVERY NURSING PROGRAM IN THE STATE receive weekly copies of The Nursing Times. The Nursing Times is the largest weekly health care publication in the state. The Nursing Times has been publishing every week since October 23rd, 2000. You are one of nearly 170,000 viewers that visit this site each month. The Nursing Times Digital (Email) Version is broadcast to nearly 12,000 RNs, LPNs and other healthcare professionals every Monday. Recruiters – Ask about our JOB ALERTS (Immediate broadcast/Immediate results). If you have a news idea, press release, announcements or personnel changes that affect the industry – call 405-631-5100 or email news@okcnursingtimes.com RECRUITERS: STATEWIDE PRINT AND/OR DIGITAL ADVERTISING AVAILABLE! To request rates and information email info@okcnursingnews.com. This www.okcnursingtimes.com website is locally owned and operated by METRO PUBLISHING L.L.C. and contains material that is protected by international copyright, trademark and other intellectual property laws and unless otherwise specified, is intended for your personal, noncommercial use only. Images and information contained on this site may not be modified, copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted or distributed for commercial use in any way. You may download material from this site and may use this site for personal and non-commercial use, provided all copyright and other proprietary notices remain intact. For special exception, please contact the news department news@okcnursingtimes.com or call our office 405-631-5100. COPYRIGHT © 2009-2010 METRO PUBLISHING L.L.C. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Not everybody wakes up in the morning expecting to be hospitalized. Hospital patients have different concerns ranging from when will they be going home to wanting to learn the results of tests critical for diagnosis.

Mercy physicians and nurses will enjoy a rare view Wednesday of a high-tech computer system that often views their most critical patients 500 miles away in Missouri.

I think all the professors are really great and I love the brand new facility. I love the new buidling. Amy Music, student Rose State I like everything about going to Rose. I like the clinical experience. We do a lot of clinical hours here and of course the professors are great. Shelby Warren, student Rose State What I like is it's close to home. The slogan stay close, go far is really true for me. I get the same education as others but mine is cheaper. Mariah Brown, student Rose State I drive from Bridge Creek just because of the professors. There's a lot of schools are closer to me but I'll drive for the professors at Rose State Michelle Enriquez, student Rose State

Missouri does not require mandatory continued education classes for license renewal while Kansas nurses must receive at least 30 continued education hours prior to license renewal (every two years). Arkansas requires 15 contact hours every two years prior to renewal (20 if license expires) and Texas requires 20 contact hours prior to renewal. Oklahoma’s Nursing Times want to hear your thoughts on this subject an you could win a $25 Gift Certificate to Sophabella’s Chicago Grill! Please email your response, along with your name, nursing credentials, city, and contact information to news@okcnursingtimes.com or fax it to 405-631-5103. 08-30-10 Requiring licensed nurses to earn CEUs to maintain a current nursing license in Oklahoma has my full support. The Board of Nursing should require nurses to seek (mandatory) CEUs each year to maintain our professional licenses. Active career professionals have an obligation to maintain their professional skills and keep current on health care practices. Mandatory CEUs would enforce that obligation. Nursing journals make it easy for licensed nurses to complete mandatory CEUs. Some of the nursing journals contain articles, followed with attached tests to submit for CEU credit. Many employers offer in-services for nurses to earn CEUs. Thus mandatory CEUs are not an overly burdensome requirement. Health care practices and policies change continuously. For example, nurses’ role in health care financial reimbursement includes an understanding of factors that affect cost-effective nursing care. CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid) in 2009 started reimbursing hospitals based on “Never Occurring Events” and documentation to Core Measures (Pay for Performance). Oklahoma licensed nurses are accountable to provide safe nursing practice, which includes a responsibility to keep current on professional health care issues. The nursing profession encompasses a wide range of specialized areas. Nurses should continue to learn about changes in nursing care outside of their own current area of nursing practice. After all, in this uncertain economy, nurses may be forced to consider alternate employment outside of their comfort zone of patient care. For these reasons, the requirement for CEUs for renewal of license is a necessity to maintain a competent nursing profession. Irene Pappas MS, RN Nursing Instructor Tulsa