07-26-10 No.  It is an added expense with minimal benefit.  I have friends who are RN's in states that require CEU's - one in particular who has not worked as an RN in years but obtains the CEU's to renew.  She says she basically pays the expensive fees and goes through the motions to renew -- with very little useful, practical information.  Continuing education should be provided by the employer so it is more tailored to the RN's actual job duties, not something completely irrelevant just to renew the license.
 Nancy J. Reed, RN, BSN, MPH
07-26-10 After 25 years of practice in the nursing field, I have seen tremendous changes and I have also seen nurses who can’t or won’t keep up with those changes. I feel continued education is what we do on a regular basis, if we want to be “safe” and “skilled” nurses. Yes, I support the idea of requiring continued education for all licensed nurses in OK. I soon will be in the “older adult population” and I want to know that those who will be caring for me will know what they are doing, I pray.
Roberta Kelly, RN, BS PN Instructor
Gordon Cooper Technology Center
Practical Nursing Program

07-19-10 I am not supportive of requiring annual mandatory CE for all nurses licensed in Oklahoma. The reason I am not supportive is twofold. The first is that I am unaware of any research findings that support engaging in mandatory CE results in greater competence. I agree with noted researcher and author Dorothy del Bueno that a score on a test does not establish competence.  Secondly, in ten years of online teaching and communicating with many nurses across the U.S. who live in states  requiring CE, I find that in the majority of cases these nurses  report completing CE unrelated to their practice area in order to meet the mandatory requirements. Years ago I conducted a research study examining nurses and uses of learning resources. Part of the findings were that nurses who want to learn will engage in activities without the requirement of mandatory CE.
I do believe a positive aspect of mandatory CE is that it sends a message to the public that nurses believe in education and leave  the impression we support continued competence. The public probably wouldn’t be aware of the lack of research about mandatory CE and whether or not is has an effect on competence and that nurses practicing often take CE unrelated to their practice area in order to meet the CE requirements. 
I support the “BSN in 10” as way to support continued competence for ADNs and diploma nurses and graduate level education for BSNs. I also believe that national specialty certifications that require CE related to the practice area is more beneficial than a blanket mandatory CE requirement. In addition, I believe the value of experiential learning in the workplace and the role it has in continuing competence should not be underestimated.
Respectfully,
Barbara Patterson, EdD, RN, CNE
Weatherford, OK