The rate of innovation in the healthcare industry is unprecedented; every year, researchers, scientists, nurses, and doctors find new ways to cure diseases and treat and care for the sick. Professional standards have also improved a great deal. Today’s nurse, for example, hardly compares to one who practiced 30 or 40 years ago. Not only do they have a broader healthcare mandate, but they also need to be highly educated to advance in their career.
The modern nurse needs more than basic RN qualifications to get ahead. In 2010, the Institute of Medicine released a report which highlighted the need for higher qualifications for nurses to meet the demands of an ever-changing healthcare system. It indicated that 80% of all RNs should have a BSN or other higher degree by 2020.
The US has not yet met this goal, but it has made impressive strides, with many nurses striving not just for higher education but also for professional development so that they can meet the demands of the job. Nursing practice is more complex than it has ever been. The quality of care has changed a great deal, and there is a great emphasis on patient-centered care. Nurses are required to participate in improving policy, systems, evidence-based practice, and research. Nursing leadership roles have been created, and many healthcare facilities routinely hire nurse managers.
Post-graduate-certificate-nursing courses such as Wilkes University’s post-graduate/advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) certificate program impart vital skills. Enrollees focus on topics such as advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, diagnostic reasoning, health perspectives of culturally diverse or underserved populations, preparation for nurse practitioner boards, and advanced health assessment.
Even as many nurse practitioners pursue higher education, they appreciate that professional development plays a big role in making them better caregivers and helps advance their careers. Professional development costs money and takes time, so why should nurses pursue it? If one already has a postgraduate degree and is employed, does it make sense for them to spend money and time on getting additional qualifications?
There are many reasons why nurses are encouraged to pursue skills-based courses during their careers. Before we look at the benefits of these courses, let us understand what professional development courses are and what skills they impart to nurses.
What is professional development?
Simply defined, it is the process through which nurses improve their skills by continually training and learning. Nurse practitioners, whether or not they have a degree, should strive to improve their knowledge and skills, and they can do this by enrolling in short courses and attending seminars, conferences, and other industry events. Professional development courses are designed to educate about what is new in the profession, add to the nurse’s skill set, and close any gaps that the nurse may have despite their previous training.
If an RN isn’t very good at drawing blood or placing an IV, for example, they can enroll in a short course that focuses on these two particular areas, and by the time they complete the course they should, ideally, be able to carry out both tasks competently. There are hundreds of professional development courses for nurses, and they are not necessarily restricted to nursing. If a nurse isn’t a good communicator, for example, enrolling in a communication course is considered professional development. By undertaking some form of professional development, nurses are taking active steps to fill gaps in their training, become better caregivers, and add to their qualifications.
Equally, if a nurse doesn’t understand finance very well and would like to be promoted to a managerial position, they can enroll in a course that teaches finance in healthcare. If they are not very good report writers, they can register for courses that teach report writing, and by the time they finish, they will have the necessary skills to write professional reports that can be sent out to different stakeholders.
Importance of professional development
As we mentioned above, professional development needs time and money. So why should nurses bother with it?
Improves patient care standards
Everything that nurses learn during professional development goes to improving patient care.
Patient-centered care means that the patient is allowed to take an active role in the treatment process; they don’t sit back and wait for nurses and doctors to make all the decisions but, rather, contribute actively, letting healthcare professionals know how they would like to be treated and cared for.
The more skills a nurse has, the better they can take care of patients. Developing their skills enables them to perform a wider range of tasks, be up to date on the latest treatments, and be better communicators.
Improves patient confidence in their caregivers
As healthcare standards have improved, patient feedback has become a critical part of the treatment process. Nurses who continually improve themselves can perform more procedures, and they bring professionalism and skill to every task. As a result, patients are happier with the treatment that they get and are more likely to give positive feedback. Happy patients also heal faster and therefore consume fewer resources.
Nurses can improve their confidence and self-esteem
Highly skilled nurses tend to be more confident; whatever duties they are tasked with, they are sure that they can carry them out competently. A confident nurse records better patient outcomes overall. A confident nurse is also more likely to ask for help when faced with a task that is beyond their scope.
Latest in research and healthcare trends
There are innovations in healthcare all the time. Based on research, doctors, nurses, and health scientists develop better ways to care for patients. In addition to this, pharmaceutical companies discover new and better drugs all the time, and they unveil new equipment every year.
It is the responsibility of the nurse to keep up to date with these innovations. They need to learn where to apply them and how to use them to help patients. The best way to do this is to engage in professional development.
Nurse practitioners should aim to attend a few industry events every year. They should seek out those that focus specifically on innovations in nursing practice. When they bring their newly acquired knowledge to their place of work, they are better able to care for patients, and they have a direct impact on patient outcomes.
Keeps them motivated
Motivation is vital for nursing. Because their jobs are demanding, it isn’t unusual to find nurses who say they are burned out and need a break. Nurse mental health has become a focus in recent years. The industry is waking up to the fact that nurses need to play an active role in their mental health if they are to provide the kind of care that patients need.
Training programs are a welcome break for nurses who feel strained. They can take time off from their usual duties to learn something new that helps them progress in their careers. The new skills they learn can also lighten their load; they learn how to perform procedures faster, and they get acquainted with new equipment for more efficient patient care.
Opens up new opportunities
Any nurse who has been stuck in the same position for the last few years should enroll in professional development courses if they want to expand their horizons. With new qualifications, they show employers that they can take on more responsibilities and carry out complex tasks, and they can work in different sections of the hospital. It makes their work more interesting and puts an end to the monotony of repetitive tasks.
Fastest route to promotion
In the same way that professional development opens up new opportunities, it also opens up opportunities for promotion. If a nurse wants to join management, for example, they can take up courses in policymaking and finance, and after they complete their training, they can talk to their employer about climbing up the ladder. Those who would like a change of scenery can apply for better-paying jobs in other healthcare facilities or even join a whole new specialization with their newly acquired skills.
How should nurses select professional development courses?
Nurses must think about what they want to achieve with every professional development course that they undertake. What do they hope to learn? Is there a particular skill they are after, or are they looking for general edification? Clearly defining goals makes it easier to choose the best professional development activities.
Any nurse who is thinking about adding to their qualifications must consider what they want to do with their career. How does the course they have in mind fit in with what they already do, and how can it help them advance?’
If a nurse would like to change specialties, for example, professional development courses will not suffice. They ought to be looking at post-graduate-certificate nursing courses because they offer them a chance to choose the specialty of their choice. Nurses who want to augment existing skills can opt for short courses. Online learning has made it easy to get additional qualifications. Online courses can be done anywhere, at any time. These courses are also cheaper, and enrollees don’t have to think about paying for commutes and accommodation.
As they evaluate courses, nurses should be careful to choose those from accredited institutions. Accreditation means that the institution and the course have been vetted. It also helps to talk to a mentor who has walked the same path. They can provide valuable insights about what courses are best and how they should be pursued.
Options available for professional development
One of the easiest ways to gain additional qualifications is to enroll in a degree course, and there are numerous options in nursing practice. Some professionals enroll in courses that take them in a completely new direction with a new specialization, while others take short courses to add to their existing knowledge in their current specialization. For those who would like to pursue higher education and do not have the time and the money (or both), short courses are ideal because they take only a few weeks or months to complete. It is up to the nurse to think about what areas of their career they want to improve and then research courses that can impart the desired skills and knowledge.
One quick way to gain access to high-quality professional development courses is to join nursing organizations, and there are several in the United States. They include the American Nurses Association, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, the National Association of Licensed Practical Nurses, and many more.
Many of these organizations require that members meet continuing education requirements in order to get their membership renewed. Some form partnerships with nursing schools to offer subsidized training to members, so any nurse who may be struggling to pay for additional training should consider becoming a member of one of these.
Employers are also a useful source of information, especially for nurses who are looking for internal promotions. They get to learn where there are gaps in the hospital, and they can look for programs that impart the particular skills that are needed to fill those roles. After completion, they can show their employers their additional credentials and apply for new and better positions.
There is no shortage of professional development opportunities for nurse practitioners in America. The important thing for practitioners is to think through what training they need and how they can obtain it.
Nurses should consider their overall career goals and whether or not they are content with their current specialization.
If they are not, they can take a completely different direction by enrolling in a degree. If they are happy with where they are and are only seeking to add on a few skills many short courses are tailored for nursing professionals.
Conclusion
Professional development is a vital part of a nurse’s career. Nurses should prioritize growth in their personal and professional lives so that they can provide a higher standard of care and improve patient outcomes.