- Pat Hayes, MSN,RN,CNAA,BC Director, Nursing Education, 828-257-4423,
- Karylee Clark, BSN, RN, Associate Director, Nursing Education, 828-257-4416,
- Joyce Jolly, MSN,RN Associate Director, Nursing Education, 828-257-4462,
- Jennings Minton, MS,CNM,BSN Associate Director, Nursing Education, 828-257-4447,
- Barbara Bennett, CPS, AAS, Senior Administrative Assistant, Nursing Education, 828-257-4430,
As an integral part of its mission, each of the AHECs is committed to promoting educational mobility for all nurses.
North Carolina continues to require more nurses prepared at the baccalaureate level and above.
AHEC-sponsored off-campus degree programs provide flexible options for working nurses who wish to advance from RN to BSN, MSN and PhD.
Additionally, the state’s need for advanced practice nurses continues to increase making accessibility of these programs even more
important. For more information on educational mobility options for NC nurses visit the College Foundation of North Carolina website
at http://secure.ncmentor.org/Nursing/
Nursing Continuing Competence - How MAHEC Can Help
Q: What will I have to do to meet the Board requirements for continuing competence?
A: Beginning July 1, 2006, at the time of licensure, all nurses will be expected to:
- self assess your practice;
- develop a learning plan and establish at least one goal for yourself ;
- select a learning activity that will help you reach your goal/goals; and
- implement your plan.
Note: You will not be expected to have completed your learning activity until your next license renewal.
As of July 1, 2008, at the time of license renewal, you should have completed your chosen learning activity and be prepared to provide evidence to the Board, if requested.
Q: What are the learning activities that I can choose?
A: You will need to select one option from those eight (8) listed below, implement it and complete it prior to your next license renewal. Note: selected continuing education activities must be related to your learning goals.
- National Certification or re-certification by a national credentialing body recognized by the Board; or
- Thirty (30) contact hours of continuing education activities; or
- Completion of a Board approved refresher course; or
- Completion of a minimum of two semester hours of post-licensure academic education related to nursing practice; or
- Fifteen (15) contact hours of a continuing education activity and completion of a nursing project as principal or co-principal investigator to include statement of the problem, project objectives, methods and summary of findings; or
- Fifteen (15) contact hours of continuing education activities and authoring or co-authoring a published nursing-related article, paper, book or book chapter; or
- Fifteen (15) contact hours of continuing education activities and developing and conducting a nursing education presentation or presentations totaling a minimum of five contact hours for nurses or other health professionals to include a copy of program brochure or course syllabi, objectives, content and teaching methods, and date and location of presentation; or
- Fifteen (15) contact hours of continuing education activities and 640 hours of active practice within the previous two (2) years.
Q. How can MAHEC help you?
A. The AHECs are recognized CE providers by the NC Board of Nursing. Check the MAHEC website www.mahec.net and the NC AHEC website www.ncahec.net for continuing education activities to help you meet your learning plan.
Q. Where do I go for more information about nursing continuing competency?
A. Check the North Carolina Board of Nursing website: www.ncbon.com
The goal of the MAHEC Department of Nursing Education is to enhance and support the practice of quality nursing in western North Carolina. The Department strives to accurately assess nurse’s needs in the MAHEC 16 county region and develop appropriate strategies to address these needs. These strategies may be in the form of conferences, specialty group meetings, collaboration with professional organizations, schools of nursing and health care institutions on specific nursing issues or nursing initiatives/special projects.
We want and need nurse’s input and feedback! Please email us with any suggestions, speakers or ideas for workshops or regional activity.