Concept of Continuing

Professional Development
Fundamentals of Nursing
Introduction
Education doesn't end after nurses
graduate and become licensed RNs.
Instead, they start on a path of lifelong
learning that goes on throughout their
nursing careers. It's critical that they
continue gathering information to keep
abreast of changes in nursing.
Continuing professional development
(CPD)
The way in which you continue to
learn and develop throughout your
career. CPD is essential. It adds to
your skills, knowledge,
professional identity and ways of
thinking so that you stay up to date
and practice safely and effectively,
now and in the future.
Lifelong learning
Formal and informal learning opportunities that allow you to
continuously develop and improve the knowledge and skills you
need for employment and personal fulfilment
What Is Lifelong Learning?
Nurses continue to learn throughout their careers to gain knowledge so
they can competently fulfill their scope of practice and standards of
care. It may include formal or informal educational opportunities such
as: •
Enrolling in traditional or online degree programs.
• Watching online webinars and videos.
• Attending conferences.
• Joining nursing associations.
• Obtaining specialty certification.
• Receiving on-the-job training. (preceptorship)
• Researching and reading nursing journals, articles and evidence-based
literature.
• Collaborating with other healthcare professionals.
• Volunteering on committees.
Why Is Lifelong Learning Important In
Nursing?
• Lifelong learning gives nurses the critical-thinking and problem-
solving skills needed to resolve issues they may encounter while
taking care of patients. When nurses are up to date on new techniques,
policies and procedures, they may influence healthcare in these ways:
• Build strong collaborative relationships with patients and coworkers.
• Improve patient outcomes.
• Decrease mortality rates.
• Reduce the chance of errors.
CPD Amendments and Exemptions
• On February 27, PRC and CPD Councils came up with IRR Amendments through
Resolution No. 2019-1146 which take effect March 1. Here are the salient points in
the amendments:
• PRC provides a “transition period” for professionals to comply with the unit
requirements. During this transition period, the following shall be observed:
a) OFWs are not covered by the CPD requirement.
b) Newly licensed professionals shall not be covered by CPD requirement for
the first renewal cycle after obtaining their license.
c) The various CPD Councils shall reduce the required CPD credit units to a
minimum, which shall not be more than 15, as provided for under applicable laws.
• Professionals who lacked CPD units but were able to renew through an Affidavit of
Undertaking shall only comply with the required number of units as amended
pursuant to this Resolution equivalent to not more than 15 credit units.
Career Path
Here are actually five career options
for Filipino registered nurses who want to start working outside the
hospital.
• Nursing Professor/Clinical Instructor
• Community Nursing
• Forensic Nursing
• Healthcare Information Nursing
• Medical Sales Representative.