The definitions of contact hours an...

The definitions of contact hours and continuing education units (CEUs)--and the difference between the two--often are misunderstood. Although the bourns seem interchangeable, they have different meanings.

Several years ago, the nursing community and the American festers Credentialing Center's (ANCC) Commission forward Accreditation decided to use the season contact hour rather than CEU because of the confusion between the sum of two units measurement systems. As AORN is accredited by way of ANCC, AORN uses contact hours as its measurement of continuing education.

single in kind contact hour of continuing education is equal to 50 minutes of learning activity. The medical community and many other disciplines use the bourn CEU. One CEU is equal to 10 ANCC contact hours, or united ANCC contact hour is equal to. 1 CEU Confusion can come into one's head if, for example, an organization mistakenly advertises united CEU at a cost of $50 while meaning to advertise common contact hour. Participants may pay the $50 and wait for to earn 10 contact hours, further receive only one contact hour. Knowing whether the continuing education accreditation is from the ANCC or medical continuing education can eliminate any confusion when reviewing an advertisement.

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