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Public health continuing education courses focus on best practices for public health nurses. Public health CEs are designed to cover a multitude of topics that nurses incorporate into their practice ranging from management of community-acquired infections to human trafficking.

Popular Public Health Courses

Working with Individuals Experiencing Homelessness
The goal of this course is to help the healthcare team gain knowledge about barriers and interventions when working with patients experiencing homelessness.

1.00 Contact Hours

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$20.00

Free with Standard Membership
A Healthy Home for Children
The goal of this course is to help nurses, social workers, and health educators identify and prevent health hazards in the homes of children.

1.00 Contact Hours

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$25.00

Free with Standard Membership
Pharmacology of Drugs for Sexually Transmitted Infections: Syphilis and Gonorrhea

The most recent sexually transmitted infection (STI) report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that about 1 in 5 people in the U.S. had an STI on any given day (CDC, 2022a). STIs acquired in 2018 alone will cost the healthcare system nearly $16 billion in direct healthcare costs. In the most recent complete data from 2021, there are nearly 68 million STI infections in the U.S. and 26 million new infections, nearly half of which occur among people 15 to 24 years old.

1.00 Contact Hours

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$20.00

Free with Standard Membership
Pertussis: Diagnosis and Treatment
Pertussis, also known as “whooping cough,” is a vaccine-preventable disease that has experienced a resurgence since the 1980s (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2022b). It is likely that only a small number of pertussis cases are recognized and reported with the real incidence likely much higher. Rates reported may be up to 160 times less than the actual amount of disease with asymptomatic rates up to 22 times more prevalent than symptomatic infections (Cherry, 2016).
 
Clinicians and educators have a role in the prevention of pertussis through patient education and immunization programs. Clinicians and educators must inform patients that neither vaccination nor infection guarantees life-long protection from pertussis. Previously vaccinated adults and adolescents with mild or subclinical disease are a reservoir of infection and often are the cause of infection in infants and children.

1.00 Contact Hours

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$25.00

Free with Standard Membership
Healthcare Issues: Tattoos and Piercings
This continuing education program will inform healthcare professionals of considerations when caring for patients with tattoos or body piercings

0.50 Contact Hours

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$20.00

Free with Standard Membership
Managing Obesity in Young Children
The goal of this course is to educate nurses, dietitians, and fitness professionals in the acute setting on pediatric obesity and best practices for management.

0.50 Contact Hours

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$25.00

Free with Standard Membership
Patient Education for Poor Readers
The goal of this course is to provide nurses in acute care with information to assess their patients’ reading and devise appropriate teaching materials.

0.50 Contact Hours

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$25.00

Free with Standard Membership
A Program for Smoking Cessation
This module provides an overview of smoking cessation programs and principles.

1.50 Contact Hours

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$34.00

Free with Standard Membership
Protecting Older Adults in Disasters
The goal of this course is to educate nurses in the acute care setting on protecting older adults during disasters.

1.00 Contact Hours

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$25.00

Free with Standard Membership
An Overview of Population Health
The goal of this course is to provide nurses in clinical settings with the knowledge and role nurses play in population health.

0.50 Contact Hours

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$25.00

Free with Standard Membership
Low Back Pain Management
The goal of this course is to educate nurses, physical therapists, and radiology professionals in the acute care setting on low back pain management.
 
After taking this course, you should be able to:
  • Recognize the important anatomic and pathophysiological components of low back pain.
  • Indicate the signs and symptoms that suggest urgent management vs. conservative management is needed.
  • Indicate appropriate treatments for different forms of low back pain.

1.00 Contact Hours

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$20.00

Free with Standard Membership
Gestational Diabetes: Diagnosis, Intervention, and Complications
The goal of this course is to educate nurses and registered dietitians in acute care settings on current screening recommendations, diagnostic criteria, blood glucose goals, and treatment interventions for GDM.
 
This course discusses the use of a drug, device, or product for purposes not approved by the FDA (off-label).
 
After taking this course, you should be able to:
  • Recognize risk factors for gestational diabetes mellitus.
  • Define at least one fetal and one maternal complication resulting from gestational diabetes mellitus.
  • Recall three interventions to achieve target blood glucose goals and improve outcomes for women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

1.00 Contact Hours

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$20.00

Free with Standard Membership
Management of Legionnaires' Disease
This course provides nurses, physicians, and pharmacists with an overview of Legionnaires’ disease.

1.00 Contact Hours

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$25.00

Free with Standard Membership
Treating Tobacco Use
Tobacco accounts for nearly half a million deaths a year, which makes it the leading cause of preventable deaths in the U.S. An additional 16 million or more Americans live with a disease caused by smoking, according to the CDC. The estimated total economic cost of smoking in the United States is more than $300 billion a year (CDC, 2019). 
 
Tobacco use exacts a high toll on morbidity, mortality, and finances, but historically, clinicians have done an inconsistent job of assessing risk and providing effective treatment options for patients (SAMHSA, 2016).

0.50 Contact Hours

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$31.00

Free with Standard Membership
Bacterial Meningitis

Members of the healthcare team must be able to recognize symptoms of bacterial meningitis to expedite testing and treatment, and advocate for preventive vaccination among appropriate age groups. With knowledge of preventive measures and awareness of early symptoms, the impact of meningitis can be greatly reduced.

0.50 Contact Hours

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$25.00

Free with Standard Membership
Infection Prevention from a Quality Perspective
This course provides the acute care healthcare team with information on preventing hospital-acquired infections to improve quality.

1.25 Contact Hours

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$20.00

Free with Standard Membership
Hand Hygiene and Skin Antisepsis

Whether at the surgical site or on the hands of the healthcare provider, human skin is inherently laden with resident and transient flora. This course addresses ways to reduce pathogens on the skin of caregivers and surgical patients to reduce the risk of infections. It provides historical context and explains proper glove use and skin antisepsis, surgical scrubs, and pre-op cleansing. The course also discusses types of antiseptic solutions and considerations for their use.

0.50 Contact Hours

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$25.00

Free with Standard Membership
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State Renewal Package

A one-click package for nurses looking to fulfill their state requirements.

$35.99

State renewal packages with all required courses and no test required*

Earn individual certificates for each course in the package, and a single overall certificate once all courses are complete

License renewal reminders and free CE alerts

Standard

Access to 800+ courses that help nurses meet their state CE requirements and advance their skill set.

$49.99

50% off state renewal packages with all required courses and no test required*

50% off premium courses over 1.5 contact hours

Access to 800+ Courses 1.5 contact hours or less, including state required courses

Certificates upon course completion

License renewal reminders and free CE alerts

One-year access included with membership

Premium

Full access to our library of 1,000+ courses. Ideal for APRNs or travel nurses who need to meet multiple state requirements.

$149.99

Free state renewal packages with all required courses and no test required*

Free access to 1,000+ accredited CE courses, including premium courses over 1.5 contact hours

25-hours Advanced Practice Pharmacology course ($259 value)

Certificates upon course completion

License renewal reminders and free CE alerts

One-year access included with membership

*State packages do not require tests except in states where tests are mandatory, or on state-required topics. Nurse.com makes every effort to provide a course for every state-required topic; some newer requirements may not be available yet. Contact Nurse.com for assistance. Member discounts exclude Self-Paced Certification Test Prep. 

More Details

Public health CEUs are intended for public health nurses who work in a variety of care settings ranging from government agencies, schools, non-profit organizations, and community care settings:

  • Registered Nurses
  • Nurse Practitioners
  • LPNs/LVNs
  • Advanced Practice Nurses

Public health nurses work in unique environments that offer a distinct subset of challenges and patient needs. Public health continuing education for nurses is offered in a variety of topics designed to best prepare nurses for the situations they face:

  • Population health
  • Disaster preparedness
  • Treating and preventing communicable diseases
  • Obesity management
  • Substance abuse
  • Human trafficking

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked QuestionsFrequently Asked Questions
Do college courses count as CEUs for nurses?

Yes, college courses can count as CEUs for nurses, but specific conditions must be met. College courses can be accepted if they are relevant to nursing practice and offered by an accredited institution. The nursing licensing board in the state where the nurse practices typically determines the acceptability of these courses.

College courses usually translate into CEUs through contact hours. For instance, one CEU is equivalent to 10 contact hours of participation in an accredited program. This standardized method is used to quantify continuing education activities across different institutions and professions.

It's essential for nurses to verify with their state licensing board to ensure that the specific college courses they plan to take will be recognized as CEUs. Different states may have varying requirements regarding what counts as acceptable continuing education.

How many contact hours are needed to become an RN?

The number of contact hours required to become and remain a Registered Nurse (RN) varies by state and specific licensing boards. Find the CE requirements for your state here: Nurse CE Requirements by State

Conversion and Definition:

Contact hours are a measure of actual time spent in educational activities, where one contact hour typically equals 60 minutes of instruction​.

Verification and Compliance:

Many states allow nurses to choose from a variety of educational activities to earn contact hours, including online courses, seminars, and workshops. It's essential to ensure that these courses are accredited and recognized by the state's nursing board.

Are contact hours the same as CEUs?

Contact hours refer to the actual time a nurse spends participating in a structured educational activity. Typically, one contact hour equals 60 minutes of instructional time. Contact hours are often used to measure participation in courses, workshops, seminars, and other educational activities that contribute to professional development in nursing​.

CEUs are a standardized unit of measurement used to quantify participation in continuing education programs. One CEU is equivalent to 10 contact hours of participation. CEUs provide a uniform method for recording and reporting continuing education activities across different institutions and professions​​.

Why should I sign up for a free membership on Nurse.com?

A free account lets you manage your nurse life in one place. We’ll track your licenses and credentials, remind you when CE is due, and keep your resume and job profile in one place. Search and save jobs, access career resources, take free CE courses, enter monthly giveaways, get exclusive discounts from top brands, and connect with peers in our supportive community.

What is the difference between a membership and a registered user account?

A registered user account on Nurse.com is free and allows you to track your licenses, credentials and CE, store your resume and profile information, plus more.

CE memberships help you meet your continuing education needs and advance your clinical knowledge. The Standard Membership, available for $49.99 per year, gives you access to all online courses 1.5 contact hours or less, a 50% discount on courses over 1.5 contact hours, and a 50% discount on state renewal packages. The Premium Membership, priced at $149.99 per year, includes all the benefits of the Standard Membership plus free access to all state renewal packages, premium courses over 1.5 contact hours, and the Advanced Practice Pharmacology course.

Will all my history remain intact within my profile?

Yes, all your course history and transcripts will remain intact within your profile. This allows you to easily access your continuing education records and certificates anytime you need them.

Who do I contact if I need support?

For support, contact our Support center here or by clicking on the question mark icon in the blue circle in the lower right corner of your screen.

What if I’m not able to complete an entire course?

If you are not able to complete a course you can bookmark your place and return to it later.

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