5 Common Mistakes During License Renewal for Nurses

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Nurses often aim for perfection. After all, when managing the care of patients with any number of physical or mental health issues, even the smallest mistake can have catastrophic effects on the patient's health and well-being. Just staying on top of the day-to-day workload can easily take up all of a nurse’s spare brain space!

Unfortunately, when so much energy is being put into keeping others on track, nurses often fall short in managing their own needs. Every nurse knows someone who’s been up against the license-renewal wall, and many have experienced it firsthand. An online CE bundle for your state from a trusted provider can make it easy to get the credits you need, but a simple wrong date in your calendar can be enough to cause your license to lapse and interrupt your career.

How does license renewal for nurses go wrong, and what can you do to prevent it? Here are the top five mistakes you should avoid during the process.

1.   Missing the Deadline

Missing the deadline to renew your nursing license can impact your ability to work, and the one true authority on that is your respective state nursing board. Many states consider your license to be lapsed the minute the calendar ticks over, and continuing to work can have very serious professional and legal consequences. Other states like Michigan and Colorado offer a grace period, but these timelines can vary widely.

In short, you cannot afford to make assumptions or hope that a day or two without a license will go unnoticed.

Additionally, some states have deadlines related to CE completion as well. Make sure you check online for when those deadlines are, especially if working in more than one state.

2.   Incomplete CE Hours

Most states have established clear guidelines for the number of CE hours you’ll need to renew, and some go so far as to specify certain topics that need to be completed. Regardless, CE requirements are not a suggestion. They are a hard stop when it comes to renewal.

Do not attempt to renew your nursing license by submitting fewer hours than are required. If a course covers more than one topic, make sure you know exactly how many hours or credits are attributed to each one.

The best way to find out your state’s CE requirements for a license renewal for nurses is to check with your nursing board. You can also get a state bundle from an online continuing education provider that gives you all the credits you’ll need for that year. The top providers offer fully accredited courses and will automatically register completion with CE Broker, so you never have to worry if you’ve covered all the bases.

3.   Inaccurate Contact Information

While some nurses have had the same phone number for decades, others change addresses and contact information frequently. Whether you’ve found a new job or simply moved down the street, you’ll need to make sure the state has your most recent contact information. This will ensure any communication related to license renewal, like deadlines and newly added requirements, is received with enough time to make a plan.

This is especially important for travel nurses who might be away from home for extended periods of time. If it’s unrealistic to update information that will only be good for a couple of months, lean on something more permanent like an email address or virtual mailbox. Also, make sure you have a plan in place for someone back home to send you any important communication received in the mail.

Fortunately, your CE requirements don’t have to suffer from this problem. Courses can typically be completed online for any state in the nation, so they’ll follow you anywhere you take a screen or device. The best CE creators even include audio-only options, which means a license renewal for nurses can be taken care of even while you’re on the road.

4.   Incomplete Application Information

An incomplete renewal application can lead to a delay in processing or result in a denial. It's crucial to ensure all required information and documentation are submitted as per the state's guidelines. If you discover an issue after submitting your application, contact your state board of nursing for guidance on how to correct it or submit additional information.

This goes for information related to payment as well. If your payment information is incomplete or wrong, the fee won’t be processed, and your application won’t be completely approved. If you’re unable to submit payment due to the financial burden, a few states will consider waiving the fee with documentation of financial hardship.

5.   Withholding Information

Almost every renewal application across the country will ask questions related to criminal convictions and disciplinary actions brought against you within the last renewal cycle. Given the personal nature of these questions, it may be tempting to leave this information out in order to avoid discomfort or a possible denial.

Admitting to such does not guarantee you’ll have a problem, but withholding this information or answering dishonestly can lead to denial and disciplinary consequences. In fact, if it’s provable that you did it on purpose, it can result in legal action in many states, especially if you’ve been practicing.

Even a simple memory slip can give the appearance of a suspicious omission, so give yourself time to complete your applications as thoroughly and consciously as possible.

Premiere Makes License Renewal for Nurses Easy

Everybody makes mistakes, but these five common errors don’t have to complicate your next renewal. By avoiding these pitfalls, you’ll be able to enjoy a smooth renewal process while experiencing much less stress along the way.

Premiere is committed to ensuring that your CE coursework is never an issue, offering award-winning options that fulfill all your renewal requirements, no matter what state you’re in. Our Unlimited Nursing CE Subscription and state bundles give you instant access to all your renewal materials so you can dive in anytime, anywhere. With a huge library of courses covering best practices, recent legislation, and trending topics, you’ll never miss out on an opportunity to develop your career and meet your professional obligations.

All of Premiere’s courses are designed by industry experts and make license renewal for nurses as easy as finding a screen.