Professional Development Of Nursing Professionals Essay
Review the Institute of Medicine’s 2010 report “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.” Write a 750-1,000 word paper discussing the influence of the IOM report on nursing practice. Include the following:
Summarize the four messages outlined in the IOM report and explain why these are significant to nursing practice.
Discuss the direct influence the IOM report has on nursing education and nursing leadership. Describe the benefits and opportunities for BSN-prepared nurses.
Explain why it is important that a nurse’s role and education evolve to meet the needs of an aging and increasingly diverse population.
Discuss the significance of professional development, or lifelong learning, and its relevance in caring for diverse populations across the life span and within the health-illness continuum.
Discuss how nurses can assist in effectively managing patient care within an evolving health care system. Professional Development Of Nursing Professionals Essay
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Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide.
By the end of this chapter, you should be able to:
– Understand the purpose and content of the NMC Code (2015)
– Appreciate the value of professional standards in practice
– Identify professional actions and behaviours suitable for nurses
– Critically review your own professional practice compared to national standards
The NMC Code
The NMC Code is the professional practices and standards for nurses and midwives practising in the UK. The publication details the duties and responsibilities of nurses in practice and illustrates the professional attitudes and actions necessary for good patient care. The NMC Code also focuses on professional and practical aspects of nursing care. Professional Development Of Nursing Professionals Essay
The NMC Code pertains to direct patient care, but also covers a range of other activities in nursing practice. These activities include work with groups or communities, education, leadership, and research. The application of the Code’s values and principles may be interpreted and analysed with respect to each of these activities. However, these values and standards are not optional or negotiable, but rather form an essential set of components that are demanded of contemporary nurses.
The NMC Code is divided into four different sections, based on the core professional values of nursing. These are as follows:
Prioritise people
Practise effectively
Preserve safety
Promote professionalism and trust.
Prioritise people
Prioritising people is key, and involves putting the interests of service users first. Treating patients with respect is a key aspect of the care process and the rights of patients should be upheld. This means that nurses should not be discriminatory, judgemental or disrespectful to patients, regardless of personal views or patient behaviour. Professional Development Of Nursing Professionals Essay
Practise effectively
Nurses must be able to assess the needs of patients, interpret test results, advise on treatment courses, and to adhere to the evidence base. Furthermore, nurses need to be able to deliver optimal care within a swift timeframe, while clearly communicating with patients and maintaining professional standards of record keeping and knowledge sharing. The NMC Code outlines a number of aspects of practice that should be adhered to in order to be an effective nurse.
Preserve safety
Patient safety must be at the heart of all nurse decision-making. Nurses must be aware of their limitations and skill set, knowing when they are out of their depth and require help. Attempting to manage patients when you are doubtful or lack the necessary skills or knowledge is not safe. You must also be aware of the care processes of others and be alert to the possibility of lapses in safe care. Nurses should be able to identify safe and unsafe practice, and should report and address safety concerns in a timely manner.
Promote professionalism and trust
The final domain of the NMC Code is the promotion of professionalism and trust. The reputation of nurses needs to be defended, and from a professional perspective, an individual must uphold the values of the profession to ensure that nurses remain respected and valuable members of the healthcare team. You should adopt all of the necessary behaviours and attitudes outlined in the Code, and lead by example. By ensuring professionalism in everyday practice, patients are more likely to trust you and will be more confident in your abilities.
What is expected of nurses?
Nurses are an important professional group in the healthcare system of the UK. Patients have high expectations of nurses and demand excellence from nursing care. These expectations include representing the best interests of the patient, professional conduct at all times, caring and compassionate interactions, and advocacy on behalf of the patient.
The expectations of nurses are not limited to providing patient care. Nurses should engage in other professional activities intended to promote knowledge, optimal practice and societal values. Nurses are also expected to act as leaders, educators and researchers. Professional Development Of Nursing Professionals Essay
Nursing responsibilities
Nursing responsibilities are a set of actions or behaviours that should be completed in order to promote professional practice specific to the nursing profession. The responsibilities are varied and are covered within the four main domains of the NMC Code. However, it is worth considering specific responsibilities that nurses have in relation to patients, colleagues, their profession and their organisation.
Accountability
Accountability is important for both patient care and professionalism in nursing, and is defined as a state of accepting responsibility for one’s actions. A nurse is accountable only when they fulfil three conditions: the ability to perform an activity of intervention; accepting responsibility it; and, having the authority to perform the activity. Therefore, one should only engage in activities one is qualified to perform, and nurses that have been suitably delegated to perform the task should accept responsibility during task completion. Professional Development Of Nursing Professionals Essay
A nurse has to be accountable to him or herself, as well as colleagues, professional bodies and criminal or civil courts. Nurses must be accountable for their actions – even when performing the smallest tasks. When you are not confident in completing a task, it is necessary to contact a senior member of staff or consult local guidelines and policies to determine your suitability for the task.
Delegation
Delegation is important in managing a workload and providing effective patient care. Nurses should be accountable for delegation decisions and should be able to justify their choices. When delegating, the skill set of the individual should be considered and support provided when necessary. It is not acceptable to delegate tasks to someone not trained to perform those tasks. Ultimately, the person who delegates the task needs to justify their decision and remains partly accountable for the outcome.
Multidisciplinary working
Patients may have complex needs, and nurses, doctors, physiotherapists and allied healthcare professionals work together to meet those needs. This is a fundamental form of teamwork in the NHS. By addressing the needs of the patient in a collaborative and cooperative way, the chances for patient recovery are maximised.
Multidisciplinary working has been shown to be effective; therefore nurses must engage successfully with other health professionals when delivering care. This involves recognising the need for input from other professions, communicating effectively with them, and making joint decisions on the care processes affecting the patient. If nurses do not work well within a team, then patient care can be disjointed. Professional Development Of Nursing Professionals Essay
Leadership
Nurses should be able to demonstrate qualities of leadership. This is how nurses motivate others to achieve a common goal. Nurses’ leadership can involve advocating for the patient, leading the multidisciplinary team, or guiding junior members of staff. Nurses have a professional duty to take control and provide leadership in care.
Leadership is also important outside of patient care, including regulation of the nursing profession and the research setting. Nurses should be able to govern their own profession by contributing to the development of policy and providing strong leadership to other nurses. When engaging in research, strong leadership can focus investigations on specific clinical topics or areas. Leadership is also seen in educating other members of staff and supporting the use of policies and practices on the ward. Nurses should be able to engage with others, justify their own opinions, and guide the course of clinical practice.
Record keeping
When nurses interact with patients, they often do so verbally. However, nurses must also provide a more permanent record of the patient care process, through accurate and detailed record keeping. Record keeping may incorporate a number of resources and tools, including patient notes, letters, interprofessional correspondence, and the results of interventions or investigations. These illustrate the care decisions that have been made for a specific patient and provide a record of the outcomes. Nurses should maintain these documents and ensure their accuracy. Professional Development Of Nursing Professionals Essay
Documentation should be as detailed as possible and should record all of the necessary factual information for a care decision. This includes noting observations and vital signs on a routine basis, as well as a record of written consent for procedures, and documentation of discussions of these procedures with the patient. Records may also provide legal protection against wrongdoing. If a patient complains, or dies, records should be able to show the reasoning behind the decisions that went into their care. If records are poorly kept or incomplete, nurses may be professionally or legally investigated, even if they performed care in an ethical and professional manner. Nurses should document every conversation and decision they undertake in care. Without documentation, there is no evidence that a conversation took place.
Student-mentor relationship
One of the responsibilities of the nurse is to guide junior members of staff and provide mentorship. A mentor is a senior staff member who can support students and trainees, including education support and psychological support. Nurses should engage in mentorship in order to promote the learning experiences of junior staff members. The skillset and knowledge base of the entire clinical team depend on a process of information sharing and critical feedback to ensure standards are met consistently.
The relationship between student and mentor is fundamental to promoting education in nursing. Patience, understanding and guidance are all needed in order to be an effective mentor and to ensure that students have the chance to learn in a safe and nurturing environment. All nurses are expected to be able to provide mentorship to others and it is a professional responsibility for nurses to support the learning and training of their colleagues.
Professional development and research
Nurses have a wide range of responsibilities in practice. All of these responsibilities reflect areas of professional expertise requiring specific knowledge and skills. Professional development, and continuing professional development (CPD) in particular, are terms which describe the constant need for nurses to maintain their knowledge and skills, while engaging in a lifelong process of learning. New discoveries are always being made, and the evidence base for some interventions may change annually. Unless nurses are able to keep up with these changes, they risk their own professionalism by engaging in out-dated or unsafe practices. It is a professional duty of the nurse to review research, local guidelines and national guidelines in order to make sure that they are up-to-date. Furthermore, nurses need to continually reflect on their skillset and practice techniques to make sure that they can demonstrate competency in performing procedures ranging from patient lifting/handling to basic life support. Professional Development Of Nursing Professionals Essay
Finally, it is important for nurses to become involved in the research setting. Research is the foundation of knowledge gathering, and all scientific studies aim to increase knowledge and expertise in a given field. Nurses can utilise published research to guide their practice by appraising evidence and critically analysing how this may apply to their care setting. However, nurses must also be actively involved in research in order to ensure that nursing priorities are addressed in the research setting, and to allow for further skill development. By becoming involved in research at any level, nurses expose themselves to the principles of critical analysis and can develop a deeper understanding of clinical topics. Nurses are encouraged to develop their research interests and contribute to the expansion of the knowledge base.
Conclusion
This chapter has provided an overview of the professional standards of nursing, as noted in the NMC Code. Four key domains have been evaluated: prioritise people, practise effectively, preserve safety, and promote professionalism and trust. The details of each of these domains reflect the need for nurses to meet the challenges of performing multiple roles and having many responsibilities in the care setting. Nurses must act as educators, care providers, counsellors, researchers and leaders in modern practice. By using professional guidance and ensuring that you meet the criteria for effective professional nursing, all of these areas can be fulfilled in your own practice and future practice. It is vital that you utilise evidence and experience to continue to develop your knowledge and skills over time to meet the professional standards of the nursing profession. Professional Development Of Nursing Professionals Essay
In 2010 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report indicating that nurses are a key component to the improvement of the healthcare transformation in the United States of America. The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health discussed the powerful impact of a highly educated and trained nurse in the medical profession by examining evidenced based research and relative trends. In the following essay we will discuss how these findings influence nursing education, primary care nursing practice, and the leadership roles nurses will inevitably be placed.
When addressing how nursing practice will be affected, we will also discuss how the goals of the IOM will be met. Impact on Nursing of the 2010 IOM Report
The Affordable Care Act of 2010 presented an interesting dilemma. According to the IOM panel, America will heavily rely on the expertise and compassionate care of advanced practice nurse’s to bridge the gap between the existing low number of primary care providers and the addition of thirty- two million people to the currently insured group of Americans. Professional Development Of Nursing Professionals Essay
To connect this gap, it will be necessary to allow nurses to practice to their full potential by expanding their education and training. Nursing Education
The majority of nurses in the workforce today are educated at a community college level and do not hold a Bachelor’s Degree. However, the report findings indicate the need for these nurses to attain a Bachelor Degree. This push is mainly because studies have shown a ten percent increase in the proportion of nurses holding a bachelor’s degree was associated with a five percent decrease in probability of patient’s demise within thirty days of admission and the odds of failure to rescue (Aiken, 2003). The IOM’s goal is to increase this from fifty percent to an eighty percent by 2020. To meet this goal they call for “seamless academic progression” through integrated transitions between community colleges and universities. The committee also stated the need for more affordable nursing education and training to meet the complex demands that chronic health conditions create. Primary Practice Nursing Care. Professional Development Of Nursing Professionals Essay
The IOM committee recommended the necessity of nurses to be able to practice to the full extent of their education and training especially Advanced Practiced Registered Nurses (APRN’s). In the United States of America, there are many legal barriers and inconsistent state regulations that prevent nurses from practicing to their full potential. The IOM report states, “APRN’s scopes of practice are so circumscribed that their competence extends far beyond their authority. At any point in their career, APRN’s can do much more than they may legally do. As APRN’s acquire new skills, they must seek administrative or statutory revision of their defined scopes of practice (a costly and often difficult enterprise).” Once legislation allows APRN’s to practice to their full scope of practice the high quality health care can be delivered.
APRN’s in primary practice can be extended to meet the physicians and patient needs. When nurses and doctors collaborate, quality patient care increases and cost efficiency is created. One way of establishing this collaborative team effort is by hiring more Advanced Practiced Nurses (APN) in primary care practices.
Another way we can transform nursing practice in primary care is by allowing nurse’s to be more involved with data collection. Jack Rowe from the IOM committee stated that science is based on “objective evaluation of evidence”. This evidence can be provided by the nurses who provide care to patients on a daily basis in order to create a more efficient health care system. Nurse’s Role as a Leader
The IOM report indicated the need for nurses to become the leaders of the upcoming reform. Today’s nurse is in a unique position due to the 2013 Gallup Poll’s statement that they are the most “trusted” profession in the United States. Bill Neville from the panel suggested that more nurses be put in boardrooms, legislation panels, and given more opportunities to lead. These qualities combined give nurses more power and force in leading discussions that will ultimately drive the change that needs to take place. Professional Development Of Nursing Professionals Essay
Overall the IOM report is opening the door for huge upcoming opportunities for the nursing profession. Nurses are a vital part in the healthcare reformation by becoming full partners with physicians, creating seamless academic progression for educational advancement, and practicing to their full scope of practice.
References
Aiken, L. H., et al. (2003). Educational Levels of Hospital Nurses and Surgical Mortality. Journal of the American Medical Association, 290(12), 1617-1623. Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing, at the Institute of Medicine. (2011). The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. IOM, Pg. 97. Retrieved from http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=12956 Institute of Medicine. (IOM). (2010, October 5). The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health-Report Briefing [Video]. Retrieved from
http:// www.iom.edu/Reports/2010/The-Future-of-Nursing-Leading-change-Advancing-Health/Report-Release.aspx
Continuing education is perceived here as a process that helps to improve the lives of individuals, to clarify their thoughts and personal reflection on what they are doing and act as engaged citizens in a process of social transformation. In this research, the content of continuing education is mainly based on the experiences of the actors in education and this education must take place in the school where teachers work (Ghaye, Lillyman, 2010). Professional Development Of Nursing Professionals Essay
It has been emphasized Cordingley (2003): that knowledge is multiple for teachers as part of a research it has been identified in three types: the knowledge of teacher educators (those who teach), the knowledge of a teacher’s students (those who are taught) and knowledge built by members of both groups when interacting during class. The research adds that each individual constructs his knowledge through experiences and teachers construct their professional knowledge so through their daily practice and experiences which they are subjected. Two main perspectives emerge writings on the concept of professional development (Cordingley, 2003):
Developmental Perspective
Professional development is associated with progression in the teaching profession. Particularly, Fessler and Christensen (1992) identify the following stages of progression: initial training, entry into the profession, strengthening skills, enthusiasm, frustration, stability, withdrawal and leaving the profession.
Professionalizing Perspective
Professional development is associated with learning, generally perceived as both process and product. According to Day Antoniou and Kyriakides (2011) professional development is achieved through learning experiences natural conscious and planned. The authors noted a conceptual shift in several writings between the concept of professional development and the training continues. According to them, the training means more interventions can promote the development of teaching and learning. Professional Development Of Nursing Professionals Essay
Professional Development and Learning
The professional learning begins from the beginning of the initial training and continues until the end of the professional career. This learning is a process of professional development. Among health care professional development is linked to successful treatment outcomes and the patient’s experience of care (Frankel, et al, 2011). In education improving teaching skills and developing professionally, the teacher contributes to learning and student success entrusted. Professional development is linked to innovation:
Professional development can bring about changes in the school environment and fosters a culture of innovation among teachers. Currently, changes to concern mainly student learning and ways to promote it. To better adapt their practices to the needs of students, teachers must be innovative and take into account the results of research in teaching (Stanovich, 2000)
Training offered in academia is often too fragmented and training does not adequately consider the social complexity. “In the statistics of a globalized world, is qualifying Often Understood (quantitatively) as efficacy, or efficiency of the educational worker, Malthus is disregarding the professional teacher as a human being who is situated in a local school culture. Consequently, the programs and activities from the materialized Which policies (Such as continuing education) end up Being vertical actions (discontinuous), with little consideration of the real needs of teachers and interest) (Stanovich, 2000). Criticism by teachers on training received to date indicates that:
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The course received were too short and no continuity between them (isolated activities);
The course proved sometimes too theoretical and had little to do with daily practice;
The course does not take into account the needs and interests of teachers (topics chosen by the researchers and academic staff);
The course does not take into account the cultural and political progress;
The course does not allow forming a critical opinion (ideas imposed);
The courses were sometimes offered in locations far from the school where teachers work (hard to get there, means having a lot of time and spending money). Professional Development Of Nursing Professionals Essay
The course does not take into account the reality of the school and the various contexts that can meet:
The relationship between universities and teachers is fragile (critical universities that do not prepare enough teachers for the reality of school and critical schools that are not prepared enough students for graduate studies). Some administrative practices rely on quantity rather than quality regarding training. Indeed, in recent years, offering continuing education has increased in various institutions such as universities and professional associations, but it is not always a guarantee of quality.
Role of Reflection in Quality Care
Reflective practice is about care professionals and their work. Reflective practice is about learning from experience. The role of reflection is highly important for the quality of care, without knowledge of different aspects care professionals cannot claim to be capable enough to perform their task to perfection or precision. It is about signifying what care professionals do and why they do it. The series makes an important statement about the kinds of knowledge which care professionals generate through reflection. Reflective practice does not disconnect theory and practice rather it bridges the gaps between values and actions while regarding and operating with evidence. Briefly, reflection is knowledge which is about and for the improvement of self, the team and the context of healthcare (Mamede, et al., 2012).following factor are highlighting the importance of reflection in quality of care (Mamede, et al., 2012):
Reflection is with no apologetic attitude though not exclusively practical in kind. Professional Development Of Nursing Professionals Essay
Reflection is intrinsically domestic and closely associated to the real clinical work framework of the practitioner.
Reflection is created and owned by practitioners themselves.
Reflection is frequently prepared overtly and collaboratively, not confidentially and just individually.
To inquire existing practice reflection can be used hence, to assist the development of a ‘critical’ posture towards healthcare.
Reflection is useful or ‘good enough’ to enable health care professionals to make more sense of their opinion and actions.
To the development of an enquiring posture reflection play a vital role which is a significant constituent in being able to assert that health care professionals are enduring learners. Thus Reflection above all, is appreciative. Reflective practitioners expand their work systematically and rigorously (Mamede, et al., 2012).
Model of Reflection
Miss June, 32 yrs old was admitted in A & E with car accident causing her to lose blood. She was accompanied by her friend and was conscious during her arrival. However, her health deteriorates and doctor suggested giving her unit of blood. Miss June refused to receive a blood transfusion by saying it is against her religion. The mentor tried to convince Miss June to receive a bag of blood, since her health was deteriorating with time. But Miss June refused it. To deal with this ethical dilemma and save her life nursing management should get all the facts of patient besides the above case scenario, these facts include a record of heart rate, her respiratory rate and her blood pressure (BP) (Hupston, Fleur, 2008). Professional Development Of Nursing Professionals Essay
In the precise cases of the nursing professions, it is advised that the professional to recognize, respect and perform actions that will protect the person’s right to make a decision about their health, cure, and well-being, turning them excused from any kind of unfairness (Gardiner, 2003). It also compels them to execute or contribute to health care without the approval of the patient or their legal envoy, apart from in cases of looming risk of death (Volbrecht, 2002). Hence, any diagnostic, preventive, or therapeutic intervention is required to be voted on the bioethics principles of malfeasance, non-malfeasance, beneficence, and autonomy and it can only be conducted with the permission of involving person, based on sufficient information (American Nurses Association, 2001).
Evaluate Alternative Actions
The need for blood transfusions in this case certainly has created an ethical dilemma for the healthcare team, because this procedure involves the collision of two fundamental rights: the basic right of life and the right of denial due to faith and religious values.
Decision and Test
The nursing management decides to tackle the situation in three steps. In first step with the help of evidence they begin to convince Miss June that blood transfusion for health care purpose particularly in life threatening condition is altogether different from eating blood. Nursing management should make Miss June realize that her original belief about abstaining from the blood intake is right however, it’s not applicable in this scenario. (Migden, Braen, 1998). However, even if the patient is still not convinced it cannot be forced on her to change her belief otherwise. Her care giver quickly moves to the second line of action and propose to her that she can have a transfusion by means of alternative hemotherapies (Hupston, Fleur, 2008). However, if Miss June even refuse to have an infusion of blood transfusion, isolated figurative elements (red blood Cells, leukocytes or platelets) there is an apparent clash between the fundamental right of life and the fundamental right to freedom of belief and conscience. This situation requires health care giver professional to make a decision in favour of the pervasiveness of the Miss June’s dignity as the boundary and bottom for her other rights. Professional Development Of Nursing Professionals Essay
Act and Reflect On the Outcome
When blood transfusion is essential but there is no consensual decision between patient and physician the apparent outcomes are the need of altering the law that forced the health care provider to take a decision that is not in the interest of a patient’s health. Another important outcome reflection is that the critical scenarios like this dilemma in the case of Miss June should be taught in nursing curriculum so that they can prepare themselves for the situations like this. Hospital library should make the evidences prepared to tackle the situation like this which requires some religious knowledge and information to convince the patients and their family.
In a changing world, competence becomes more than just a level of knowledge, skills and behaviours used to improve performance. In order to achieve continuous competence, learning and development must be continued. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is incredibly important in the health care system as rules, ideas and values are being assessed and broadened, therefore the professionals should maintain the knowledge and understanding of this, in order to continue competence. Professional Development Of Nursing Professionals Essay
The Oxford Dictionary defines competence as the ability to do something successfully or efficiently. By my understanding, professional competency is a person’s values, attitudes, habits, skills and practices that are based on a theory-guided, evidenced-based discipline. To be competent is to have understanding, confidence and a level of knowledge based within a competency standard. Competencies are not only defined by a person’s ability to fulfil their duties as a care giver but to have a greater understanding of every aspect that makes a nurse. A competent nurse has healthy partnerships with both patients and colleagues by understanding what makes a safe practice, showing independence, efficient time management skills, demonstrating clinical skills, italicising resources available, understanding the broad health care system and showing work ethics. Competency standards are based on the boundaries of practice, the standards set by the nurse, using a holistic approach, expectations set by the nurse, the practice and the national standard and also the nurses’ consistency.
Standards are used as framework for testing competency. The Australian Nursing and Midwife Council (ANMC) have a National Competency Standards for the Registered Nurse. Each of these standards complies with a level of competency. With the standards evolving with the change of community this shows why continuing professional development is important.
The Australian Nursing and Midwife Council have decided these standards into “domains”. Professional practice, critical thinking and analysis, provision and coordination of care and collaborative and therapeutic practice. (ANMC, 2005)
Professional practice is in relation to the professional, legal and ethical responsibilities. This includes basic knowledge of the legislation affecting nursing, health care and protecting individuals and group rights. (ANMC, 2005)
This includes practicing in accordance with relevant legislation and common law, Fulfilling the duty of care and working within an ethical nursing framework. (ANMC, 2005)
Critical thinking and analysis relates to professional development and evidence and research for practice in the health care system. This includes reflection on practice, feelings, beliefs and the consequences of individuals and groups. (ANMC, 2005). Professional Development Of Nursing Professionals Essay
Provision and coordination of care is exactly that, as well as the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care. (ANMC, 2005)
Collaborative and therapeutic practice is the establishing, sustaining and concluding professional relationships with individuals and groups. This also includes the nurses’ competencies within an interdisciplinary health care team. (ANMC, 2005)
In achieving competence a health care professional must as comply with a code of Ethics. This code can be found on The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council website. This code relates to ethics and morality used in within the standards of health care. This Code outlines the nursing profession’s commitment to respect, promote, protect and uphold the fundamental rights of people who are both the recipients and providers of nursing and health care. (ANMC, 2005) The purpose of this code of ethics is for nurses in Australia to be able to identify the ethical standards and values in which have been incorporated within the nursing guidelines and standards of conduct. This code also helps guide ethical decision making and practice.
There are eight key points within the code of ethics these are; 1. Nurses value quality nursing care for all people. 2. Nurses value respect and kindness for self and others. 3. Nurses value the diversity of people. 4. Nurses value access to quality nursing and health care for all people. 5. Nurses value informed decision making. 6. Nurses value a culture of safety in nursing and health care. 7. Nurses value ethical management of information. 8. Nurses value a socially, economically and ecologically sustainable environment promoting health and wellbeing. (ANMC, 2005). Professional Development Of Nursing Professionals Essay
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) revised the English language requirements in August 2010 which have been published on the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s website. Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia are responsible for all Nursing applications in Australia, and have made Continuing Professional Development mandatory.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is essential for professionals to maintain, improve and broaden their knowledge and skills and develop their personal qualities required for the ever-changing field of health care. Continuing Professional Development is important for the enhancement of skills both professionally and personally. This is a career long process and it is essential as the resources grow so must the professionals’ knowledge. Continuing Professional Development is a design that helps promote self-learning and address any inadequacies associated with previous learning. (Justin Konkol, n.d) The purpose of Continuing Professional Development is extensive but some of the main reasons are to maintain knowledge and skills provide evidence of competency, maintain competency and adequacy. Although a boundary on how competency and Continuing Professional Development are reviewed could come down to an individuals value judgements or expert opinion, but who is to say who is right and who is wrong? There is also an opportunity for independent assessment.
In the past it has been a requirement of health care professionals to continue education; Continuing Professional Development is an improved replacement structure of continuation of education (CE).
Competence and Continuing Professional Development are very closely linked, as you need to Continue Professional Development to continue competence. It is important that a health care professional is kept up to date in order to maintain competency. Continuing Professional Development is a key indicator of continuing competence within a practice. Competence is the ability to perform duties accurately, make correct judgments, and interact appropriately with patients and colleagues. Professional competence is characterized by good problem-solving and decision-making abilities, a strong knowledge base, and the ability to apply knowledge and experience to diverse patient care situations. (Health-Syst Pharm, 2001). Professional Development Of Nursing Professionals Essay
“CPD ensures that professions remain up to date in a changing world and that the reputation of the profession is enhanced, encouraging individuals to aspire to improve performance and ensure they are committed to learning and it is an integral part of their work.” (Whittaker, 1992). This is a prime example of a professional expert explaining why continuing professional development is important. The world can not be stopped from changing, and our professionals must keep up with the standards in order to continue competency.
Continuing Professional Development is broken up into five main principles. These include Reflecting on current skills and knowledge and identifying personal and organizational areas that may need improvement within a practice. Individually the professional should devise a personal plan for future strategies that will help in the identified learning and developmental needs. Broken down into five simple steps Continuing Professional Development is best achieved by: Step one: Identifying current competencies. Step two: Determine the desired and the current levels of performance. Step three: Identify the learning and development needs. Step four: Plan and action, in other words, fill the gaps. Step five: Evaluate and demonstrate.
There are many barriers that stop professionals from carrying out Continuation Professional Development. Time, cost, and access are the most frequent of these barriers. Finding time between work life and home life is confronting enough, let alone balancing another aspect of furthering education. Professionals with poor time-management skills will find time as the biggest barrier. The cost of perusing Continuing Professional Development can be a costly one not only for an individual but also an organisation. For smaller profit organisations they may not have the funds to support an individual professional to further their education and therefore the cost falls back onto the individual. Also people from smaller districts may not have the facilities or the facilitators required to fulfil this continuation of learning forcing them to travel a distance which again brings in factors such as time and costs. Professional Development Of Nursing Professionals Essay
There are also personal factors that become barriers such as differences in career stage, preferred learning style and individual ambition. For a professional that is high up in the heath care hierarchy they may feel that there is nothing left for them to expand on and don’t see the reasoning behind them further their education. Also every individual has a different way they prefer to learn. Unfortunately when in a learning setting not all of these approaches can be facilitated for. For someone who is comfortable in their current position, participating in Continuing Professional Development may not be ideal for them, where as for a professional that is highly ambitious participating in Continuing Professional Development is absolutely ideal for them. Barriers for Continuing Professional Development come down to the professional individual and their drive and desire to continue their learning. As Continuing Professional Development is very much a self-learning process, there is a distinct difference in those who are competent and participate in Continuing their Professional Development and those whose competency slips when furthering their education is not perused.
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In conclusion, in order to achieve continuous competence professionals need to engage in Continuing Professional Development. This is crucial for a successful heath care system and a successful practice. As research continues to grow so must the professionals’ knowledge, values, attitudes and behaviours. Rules and ideas continue to change and evolve and as a health care professional continuing professional development help the professional to evolve with them. The world will always continue to expand, change and evolve around us and our health care professionals must expand, change and evolve with it. Professional Development Of Nursing Professionals Essay