Nurses work in a fast-paced, technical environment.

They must make quick decisions about

patient care and effectively communicate with other healthcare personnel. RNs with associate
degrees can earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at many colleges and universities in an online
Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. After graduation, professional
development is an important component of a successful nursing career.

Professional Development for New and Established

Nurses
New nurses typically have limited experience so they may have difficulties in their first permanent
nursing position. Established nurses, on the other hand, understand their professional
responsibilities, but they might have questions about how to become a nurse leader or advance
their careers. Both types of nurses have to develop a way to achieve their career goals while
abiding by nursing regulations. A Nursing Professional Development (NPD) specialist helps
inexperienced nurses transition from school to practice, and they advise seasoned nurses on
ways to stay current and advance their careers.

Professional Development for Nurses

Professional development is critical to the nursing profession because it emphasizes the
importance of the following:
 Continuing education.

 Assessing learning needs.

 Upholding competency.

Nurses should continue learning throughout their careers. They need to stay up-to-date on
patient care, healthcare trends, treatments and techniques. NPD specialists are available to
advise nurses about certification and licensing requirements, and they can also address a
nurse’s need for additional instruction. Furthermore, NPD specialists ensure that the nurses
under their supervision always demonstrate competency.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) began an initiative on “The Future of Nursing” in
2008. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) published “The Future of Nursing: Leading Changes,
Advancing Health” report in 2010 based on the RWJF initiative. (The IOM changed its name to
the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) in 2015.)
According to an ANPD white paper titled Role of Nursing Professional Development in Helping
Meet Institute of Medicine’s Future of Nursing Recommendations, the 2010 IOM report
emphasized the
importance of preparing students for a career in nursing at the associate, baccalaureate and
graduate levels. Equally important, the committee recognized that the recruitment and retention
of well prepared nurses across the healthcare continuum depends on providing nurses with
opportunities to improve competencies and skill. The complexity of the current healthcare system
requires increasing specialization of nurses. Nurses who are initially well prepared and continue
to develop professionally throughout their career are a key factor in obtaining positive patient
outcomes.

The report concluded that professional development is essential for excellence in healthcare.
The report also stated that nurses who receive mentoring have a greater chance of becoming
leaders in their profession.
The Job of Nursing Professional Development
Specialists
A NPD specialist is also called a nurse educator. NPD specialists support nurses in every aspect
of nursing. They are not only educators but also servant leaders, facilitators, change agents,
researchers and mentors.

As a servant leader, NPD specialists respond to staff inquiries and concerns. They foster
individual and team relationships to build a qualified healthcare community. When they work as
facilitators, NPD specialists incorporate evidence-based practice and practice-based evidence for
use in optimal patient care. A NPD change agent can decide to make an alteration in the
healthcare setting by appraising the situation, planning a strategy and evaluating the outcome.
NPD specialists keep staff informed by distributing nursing and clinical research found in
literature or from collected data. A mentor NPD specialist consults nurses about ethical
principles, improving skills and career advancement.

Where Do NPD Specialists Work?

Generally, most healthcare organizations employ NPD specialists to guide nurses in their
professional nursing role. NPD specialists work in the following facilities:

 Hospitals.

 Long-term care facilities.

 Public health centers.

 Colleges and universities.

 Outpatient clinics.

Supporting Professional Development for Nurses

The lack of participation in nursing professional development activities surprised nurse leaders at
Medina Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio when the hospital merged with the Cleveland Clinic in 2009.
According to an article titled Boosting Participation in Professional Development Activities, nurse
leaders discovered that out of 250 nurses only 6 percent of them were enrolled in an RN to BSN
program and only 6 percent pursued a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). The nurse leaders
turned things around by encouraging nurses to work toward promotion and supporting their
professional nursing role. The nurse leaders promoted continuing education and celebrated
nursing staff accomplishments. Additionally, nurses expanded their knowledge and skills.
By 2013, there was a 57 percent increase in the number of certified nurses, and 65 nurses
earned a promotion. In 2014, 19 percent of the nurses enrolled in an RN to BSN program, 19
percent enrolled in an MSN program, and 21 percent enrolled in a doctoral program.
Nursing is a constantly developing profession. Nurses must maintain confidence and remain
open to collaboration and evaluation to attain the best patient care. For a lasting and thriving
career, nurses should commit to improving their skills through lifelong learning. Many colleges
offer courses focused on professional development in their online RN to BSN programs. The
coursework provides an overview of the professional nursing role in healthcare systems.