Nursing Jurisprudence and Ethics for Texas Nurses Practice Exam

What is the purpose of a "contact hour" in continuing education?

1. To measure the number of patients treated in a month

2. To quantify the time spent in educational activities relevant to nursing practice

3. To track the number of hours worked by a nurse

4. To serve as a requirement for maintaining a nursing license

The correct answer is: To quantify the time spent in educational activities relevant to nursing practice

The purpose of a "contact hour" in continuing education is to quantify the time spent in educational activities relevant to nursing practice. This metric is essential for ensuring that nurses engage in ongoing learning to stay current with best practices, new treatments, and changing regulations in healthcare. Each contact hour typically reflects a specific amount of educational engagement—generally, 60 minutes of participation in a qualified learning activity. This allows nurses to demonstrate their commitment to professional development and helps maintain the standards required for effective patient care in their practice. While tracking patient treatment or the number of hours worked may be relevant in other contexts, they do not pertain to the educational focus of contact hours. Moreover, while contact hours do contribute to meeting the requirements for maintaining a nursing license, the primary purpose of defining contact hours is to evaluate and measure educational activity, making option B the most fitting choice.