Intro to Writing Continuing Education Courses for Nurses

Has it been a dream of yours to share your knowledge with your peers? Does a health-related topic excite you and you have toyed with the idea that perhaps you could write a course that others in your field can benefit from but you don’t know where to start? Does the process of writing the course seem daunting and unobtainable?

I was in the same position. I felt that I could not possibly write content that my peers could gain continuing nurse education contact hours for. But I did, and I am here to tell you that it is possible!

I have written five continuing nurse education courses: ProbioticsHashimotos ThyroiditisThyroid Gland OverviewA Holistic Approach to Gut Health, and The Missing Piece - The Role of Gut Health in Sleep. Each of these courses taught me something different. I learned how to write objectives, research, and cite references, how to legally use copyright material, write an author bio, implement various forms of media (PowerPoint, video etc.) and so much more.

Throughout the process of writing these courses, I perfected and learned how and what to write, how to meet objectives while making sure content flowed and was relevant to the topic presented. Learn from my journey! It is possible for you to become a writer! The joy and satisfaction when the finished product goes “live” is such an awesome feeling!

- Pedagogy author Brooke Lounsbury, RN

Questions? Check out our FAQs page and How Online IV Certification Works!

Objectives

Upon completion the participant will be able to:

  1. List 4 parts of writing a great introduction.
  2. Discuss what an outline should include.
  3. Explain what a learning objective is.
  4. Explain types of learning domains and levels.
  5. Identify 4 types of writing styles.
  6. Explain APA style in citing references.
  7. Locate quality pictures, videos, and other forms of media to add interest to the course.
  8. Utilize quizzes, games, and other word definitions for competency.
  9. Identify forms of social media and how to reach your target audience.
  10. Explain what conflict of interest is and how to declare it if needed.

Curriculum

Chapter 1: Writing a Great Introduction

  • The four parts of an introduction
  • What is the problem and what problem does it solve?
  • Establishing credibility and expertise on subject
  • Words that sell and motivate
  • Example

Chapter 2: The Outline

  • What is an outline?
  • Structure of an outline
  • What should the outline include?
  • Instructional course example
  • Educational course example

Chapter 3: How to Write a Learning Objective

  • What is a learning objective?
  • How is an objective different than a goal?
  • Parts of a learning objective
  • Conditions
  • Behavior/behavioral verbs
  • Criterion
  • Types of learning and their levels
  • Blooms taxonomy
  • Affective domain
  • Psychomotor domain
  • Cognitive domain
  • List of verbs and their definitions (attachment)

Chapter 4: Taking Your Idea and Putting it Into a Course

  • Writing style
  • Flow
  • Relating to your audience (who is your audience?)
  • Are your objectives met?

Chapter 5: How to Cite References

  • Quality references
  • Citing references
  • Intellectual property
  • Permissions/copyright

Chapter 6: Pictures, Videos, and PowerPoint

  • Finding quality pictures
  • Use rights
  • Videos
  • PowerPoint tips

Chapter 7:  Assess for Competency Through Quizzes, Tests, Games, and Encyclopedia

  • Assess for competency
  • Quizzes
  • Tests
  • Games
  • Word definitions/encyclopedia

Chapter 8: Social Media and Writing Effective Copy

  • Types of social media
  • Who is your audience?
  • What problem does it solve?
  • “Selling” your course

Chapter 9: Disclosure of Financial or Conflicts of Interest

  • Disclosure of financial interest
  • Examples of financial interest
  • How to make a declaration of conflict of interest

Chapter 10: References

  • California Bill 241
  • Implicit Bias in Healthcare
  • What is Implicit Bias?
  • Implications of Implicit Bias in Healthcare
  • How to Reduce Implicit Bias

Price: $12.00

Contact Hour: 1

Course Author

Brooke Lounsbury

Brooke Lounsbury, RN, has over 26 years of experience as a nurse. Her primary field was in Home Health and Hospice until leaving mainstream nursing in 2008 to teach holistic health classes devoted to helping people empower themselves through education, public speaking engagements, classes, and coaching -online and in person.  Topics include digestive health, fermentation, sleep hygiene, and the effects of our technology (computers, wifi, cellphones, etc) on our health and traveled to Austria to receive further training and is an EMF consultant and home assessment mitigation expert.
 
Her latest project is her "Intro to Writing CE", a course to empower nurses on how to write a continuing education course!

She is available for writing course consultations, and can be reached at basicsrn@gmail.com.

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