Free Online Nursing Courses You Can Take Right Now

Are you interested in pursuing a nursing career? Start your journey by enrolling in free nursing courses from the comfort of your home. Several online nursing courses cover subjects similar to traditional college settings, without the associated expenses.
Universities offer these opportunities to engage potential students with additional nursing training programs or nursing career development opportunities.
These online CEUs for nurses also help professionals stay updated with advancements in the nursing field. Whether you’re a beginner nurse or looking for advanced nursing courses, there are plenty of nursing education resources to choose from.

Free Online Nursing CEU Courses

Cardiac Arrest After Cardiac Surgery: An Evidence-Based Resuscitation Protocol

Not Your Grandpa’s Stroke: Recognizing Acute Stroke in the Young Adult

Provided by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), this article qualifies for one hour of continuing education for nurses. It’s designed for adult and adult-geriatric care nurses. To earn credit, participants need to read the entire article and respond to questions. Registration closes on February 1, 2023.

The article outlines best practices for reviving patients who experience cardiac arrest after heart surgery. It covers protocols to follow before starting cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the proper use of epinephrine in these situations compared to other cardiac arrest cases. The content also explains the evidence behind these protocols and defines key responsibilities for clinical staff during such events, including the role of nursing staff.

How Do Viruses Cause Infection

A collaboration between the American Nurses Association (ANA) and Project Firstline, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Training Collaborative for Healthcare Infection Prevention & Control, this online course offers nurses 0.75 continuing education credits upon completion. The opportunity expires on June 8, 2025.

The course explores the science of viral infections and how it applies to nursing practice. Participants review how viruses lead to diseases and learn how to apply this knowledge to prevent infections.

Top Accredited Nursing Courses for Career Development

See You Now: Focus on Health Equity

This ANA-sponsored course offers four continuing education credits, available until December 15, 2024.

The course features four podcasts with nurses and organizations addressing health equity. This includes a nurse practitioner discussing how to identify signs of human trafficking, experts preventing Black maternal mortality, a pandemic initiative offering health screenings for the homeless, and a chief diversity officer discussing partnerships with faith-based organizations. Participants learn to establish practices promoting equity.

See You Now: Focus on Mental Health

Another ANA course, offering four hours of continuing education credit through four podcasts, available until June 30, 2025. Podcast topics include implementing “The Pause” technique after a patient’s death, setting up online psychiatry and therapy in response to COVID-19, building a new organizational hierarchy based on love, and addressing nursing burnout. The course deepens understanding of mental health nursing CEUs and how to support it as a nurse.

Best Free Nursing Courses for 2025

The Concept of Infection Control

Developed by the ANA and Project Firstline, this online course provides an overview of infection control fundamentals and Project Firstline’s goals. The course offers 0.5 continuing education units. The opportunity to earn CEU opportunities for nurses expires on September 1, 2025.

Introduction to Integrative Nursing

Offered through Coursera by the University of Minnesota, this course includes videos, readings, and quizzes and takes about 16 hours to complete. Topics cover integrative nursing principles and their application in practice. As of September 7, 2022, the course has had 5,578 participants and an average rating of 4.8 out of 5.0 points. Note that while approved for 12 continuing education hours by the Minnesota Board of Nursing, it may not align with all board guidelines. Subtitled versions are available in various languages.

Advanced Nursing Training Courses and Certifications

Cultural and Linguistic Competence

This self-paced online course by ScientiaCME teaches healthcare providers to meet patients’ needs despite cultural differences. The course is for physicians, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, and healthcare workers. Participants learn to overcome barriers in treating LGBTQ community members, non-English speakers, and underserved populations.

Workplace Violence Prevention for Nurses

From the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), this course explores the risks of working long hours. Participants learn to identify health and safety risks associated with extended shifts and develop strategies to counter these effects.

The self-paced program consists of 12 modules split into two parts. The first focuses on identifying problems related to shift work and long hours, while the second presents risk reduction strategies. Each module takes 5 to 20 minutes to complete. The entire program is less than four hours long.

Cardiac Nursing Courses

Workplace Violence Prevention for Nurses

This CDC training course assists nurses in recognizing and preventing workplace violence. Participants learn to identify risk factors, recognize warning signs, and implement prevention programs.

The self-paced course consists of 13 modules, each taking about 15 minutes to complete. It spans approximately three hours in total. Modules cover the consequences of workplace violence, risk factors, and prevention strategies for organizations and nurses.

Nursing Studies – Diet Therapy

Alison offers this course, teaching nurses to incorporate diet therapy into treatment plans. Participants learn to create specialized diets, especially for digestive disorders.

The course includes two modules covering seven topics and takes 1.5 to 3 hours to complete. Topics include reasons for therapeutic diets, standard hospital diets, and nurses’ roles in diet therapy.

Mental Health Nursing Continuing Education

Understanding Clinical Research: Behind the Statistics

Presented by the University of Cape Town through Coursera, this course introduces methods for interpreting clinical research. It’s ideal for those who read clinical literature, explaining common terms and concepts in statistics. Participants gain a broader insight into statistical analysis and hypothesis testing.

The 27-hour course spans six weeks, requiring 3 to 6 hours per week. Topics include study types, data description, statistical analysis, hypothesis testing, test selection, and result accuracy assessment.

Completers have the option to purchase a certificate of completion.

The Musculoskeletal System: The Science of Staying Active into Old Age

Developed by The Medical Research Council Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing, this course explores how bones, joints, and muscles deteriorate with age. Participants learn how exercise and diet impact the musculoskeletal system.

The self-paced program spans three weeks, requiring three hours of study per week. Content covers the effects of age, physical activity, and diet on the musculoskeletal system and its impact on individuals and society.

Participants can purchase a certificate upon completion.

Infection Control and Prevention Courses for Nurses

Vital Signs: Understanding What the Body Is Telling Us

This University of Pennsylvania course on Coursera delves into physiological and anatomical processes underlying bodily functions. It’s designed for current and prospective healthcare professionals, offering insights into vital signs and effective measurement strategies.

The 13-hour program takes six weeks to complete. Each week focuses on a single vital sign, including pulse/heart rate, blood pressure, metabolism, temperature, respiration rate, and pain assessment.

Upon completion, participants can obtain a certificate.

Leadership and Management Training for Nurses

Strategies for the Management of Sepsis

Offered by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), this course introduces innovative sepsis management approaches. It explores studies and trials involving fluid stewardship, vitamin C, vasopressin, and angiotensin II.

In this one-hour activity, nurses compare colloid and crystalloid administration risks, learn bedside assessment techniques, and understand how to manage refractory hypertension.

Participants receive one contact hour.

Nursing Informatics Training and Education

Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care

Salisbury University’s edX course covers Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, targeting caregivers, nurses, and healthcare professionals. Content includes identifying risk factors, symptoms, and suitable medications and treatments.

The self-paced course spans five weeks, with 2 to 3 hours of material per week. Modules address pathology, risk factors, stages, symptoms, and diagnosis.

Completers can obtain a verified certificate.

Specialized Nursing Courses

Structural Racism in Healthcare

Designed by the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), this course highlights healthcare inequities resulting from structural racism. It explores racialization of diseases and its impact on patient care.

The curriculum delves into health, science, and race relationships, viewed through current events. ENA holds ANCC accreditation, granting nurses one AMA PRA Category 1 credit.

How to Taper Patients off of Chronic Opioid Therapy

This hour-long Stanford Online course is aimed at healthcare professionals, from primary care practitioners to specialists in fields like oncology and addiction medicine. Using case studies, participants weigh opioid risks against benefits, learning safe and effective tapering methods.

Topics include patient preparation, recognizing addiction disorder signs, and providing pain management alternatives.

How to Taper Patients off of Chronic Opioid Therapy

A Nurse’s Guide to Preventing Compassion Fatigue, Moral Distress, and Burnout

Developed by the American Nurses Association (ANA), this course equips nurses with strategies to manage exhaustion. Participants learn to handle compassion fatigue, navigate morally complex situations, and combat burnout. The curriculum offers stress management techniques and methods to foster durable medical teams. Neuroscience-based strategies to combat physical and mental fatigue are also covered.

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV): Interprofessional Strategies for Prevention and Response

ANA’s ANCC accreditation qualifies participants for 1.4 contact hours. The course empowers nurses to maintain resilience and enthusiasm amid growing workplace demands.

This comprehensive list of nursing skills courses provides a wide variety of options for nursing career growth courses, from foundational online nursing courses for beginners to advanced nursing courses in specialized fields like cardiac nursing and mental health nursing. By enrolling in these accredited nursing courses, nurses can advance their skills, enhance their nursing certifications online, and continue their health care professional development.