Continuing Professional Development for Nurses - Essay Example

?CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR NURSES I. Continuing Professional Development or CPD as defined by Smith and Roberts p. 214) is “a framework for lifelong learning that is integral to the government's plans for quality in the National Health Service or NHS and is closely linked to clinical governance”. Lifelong learning entails that everyone working in the National Health Service Trust or NHS continue to update and extend knowledge and skills, which is a vital component in maintaining competent professional practice (Smith & Roberts, 2011, p. 214). This part of the paper deems to explore Continuous Professional Development or CPD by evaluating an example of a Randomized Controlled Trial through analysis of the quality of its methodological activity and by reflecting on the results obtained from the study and its impact to CPD. Increasing recognition of the need for continuing professional development or CPD for health professionals has created an inevitable expansion in course provision (Hicks & Hennessy, 2001). For a course to be successful, the particular CPD course must be able to meet the local health service needs, as well as the personal and professional development of the participants (Hicks & Hennessy, 2001). CPDs should also design methods and strategies that would encourage participation of professionals especially nurses for it to be successful. In the study conducted by McMullan, Jones and Lea (2011) entitled, “ The effect of an interactive e-drug calculations package on Nursing Students' Drug Calculation ability and self-efficacy”, aimed in comparing an interactive form of CPD and the traditional type of providing hand-outs. Using the PEDro Scale Rating, the said study was good in terms that it was able to determine the significance of CPD in the life of nurses. Nurses need to be competent and confident in performing drug calculations to ensure patient safety (McMullan, Jones & Lea, 2011). The study utilized a cluster randomized controlled trial comparing the e-package with traditional hand-out learning support (McMullan, Jones & Lea, 2011). The author of this paper believes that Randomized Controlled Trials or RCT should be conducted in determining the essence of CPD in the Nursing Profession for the reason that it limits bias and therefore provides reliability and validity of the findings. Moreover, the factors that may alter the validity of results are also given focus so as to promote precision and accuracy of results that will be obtained. Lastly, RCTs typically provide a clear picture of the answers to the inquiries posed by the issue regarding Continuing Professional Development or CPD for nurses. As a nurse, the said study was beneficial for it had proven the importance of undergoing Continuing Professional Development Courses in order to improve the skills and knowledge of nurses which is crucial in fulfilling the endeavor of providing quality care to patients. This study challenged nurses that they must continue to update themselves in order to keep at pace with the different demands or needs of their patients. It can also be concluded that learning does not stop after one has obtained his or her nursing license instead it is a continuous and lifelong process for one cannot learn everything in an instant. Moreover, a variety of updates and new discoveries are being divulged everyday in the field of nursing and for a nurse to competently play his or her role, he or she must continue to grow and mature in the profession by means of learning not only for professional enhancement but also for holistic development as an individual. II. Studying comprises a set of skills that can be learned, practiced and combined together as an overall procedure, and that this method will ensure the success of an individual (Mason-Whitehead & Mason, 2008, p. 1). Subsequently, being a student necessitates a mental attitude and a set of behaviors mandatory for the process of studying to be enjoyable and at the same time successful (Mason-Whitehead & Mason, 2008, p. 1). The Bachelor of Science in Nursing is a program which caters to the needs of students in acquiring the necessary knowledge which they can apply into practice that will be vital in developing their skills crucial in practicing the Nursing profession after they had graduated. The curriculum encompasses a variety of subjects that help in preparing students to be equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitude or KSA mandatory in being an effective and efficient nurse in the future. Nursing according to Watson (2008) is the “science of caring”. Hence, the nursing students are continually molded to be individuals who are caring and who will be sensitive to the needs of their patients. Nurses become qualified by gaining knowledge successfully in a course of study that has met the rigorous academic requirements of higher education (Mason-Whitehead & Mason, 2008, p. 3). Furthermore, it is evident that there is an increase in the professionalization of nursing due to the reflections of the expectations of a changing society as a whole (Mason-Whitehead & Mason, 2008, p. 3). Nurses should be able to keep pace with the changing demands of the members of the society. Hence, in order to develop their competencies, the students are taught different subjects in which they will be given the opportunity to learn the necessary nursing competencies. An example of a subject incorporated in the Nursing curriculum which is often a topic in CPD courses is Pharmacology. Pharmacology focuses on studying a variety of drugs, their classifications, their mechanism of action, indications, side effects, contraindications and of course drug calculations (Mason-Whitehead & Mason, 2008). Being a nurse, he or she endeavors for the safety and the provision of quality care to his or her patients. One of the things that a nurse must master is to gain knowledge and skills in computing for the right dose, knowing the right route and the right way of administering the drug. A simple mistake in drug administration might be detrimental to the patient and may even cost the life of the patient. As a result if this fact, it is then crucial for a nurse to be knowledgeable of the drugs that are usually utilized in the healthcare setting for varied cases. Moreover, he or she must also continuously update himself or herself of the updates related to drug administration and calculation which can be possibly achieved through Continuing Professional Development or COD courses that usually tackles a variety of topics regarding drug administration and calculation (Mason-Whitehead & Mason, 2008). Another vital part in the Nursing Curriculum aimed towards safety and provision of quality care knows the concepts associated with Infection Control which is also a common topic in CPD courses. An array of diseases necessitates specific protocols mandated for infection control. Certain procedures are performed to prevent the further spread of infection and to contain microorganisms in an area. Knowing such would be beneficial for the nurse for they could protect themselves to be able to serve their patients more without compromising their own health. On the contrary, the patients could also benefit from this capability of the nurse for they will not be at risk of being with other patients whose cases may be contagious or which could further worsen their condition (Mason-Whitehead & Mason, 2008). Concepts related to infection control could aid nurses on how to safely and effectively care for patients without adding further result to the injury as the saying goes. Another concept in ensuring patient safety learned by the nurses knows the simple safety measures which are also continuously tackled in CPD courses. An example of such is always keeping the side rails up for the nurse may never know what could happen once he or she turns his or her back to get something that his or her patient needs. Psychiatric or Mental health nursing is also a vital subdivision in the nursing curriculum which is also a typical focus in CPD courses that helps a nurse to understand the personality and behavior of his or her patients that may be essential in maintaining patient safety. For instance, the nurse will be able to identify manifestations of depression which could be a warning sign for the nurse to be alert with suicidal tendencies of that certain patient. This could also be further enhanced once the nurse continues to attend CPD seminars and workshops on Psychiatric Nursing. In conclusion, the foundations obtained by a nurse during the course of her study of the Nursing Curriculum enhanced further by Continuing Professional Development or CPD courses bearing in mind the Nursing Goals equipped with Nursing Competencies can surely be the fundamental strategy in attaining high level of Nursing performance crucial to quality and holistic patient care. Bibliography Gould, D., Berridge, E.J. & Kelly, D. (2007) The National Health Service Knowledge and Skills Framework and its implications for Continuing Professional Development in Nursing. Nurse Education Today, 27, pp. 26-34. Hicks, C. & Hennessy, D. (2001) An alternative technique for evaluating the effectiveness of continuing professional development courses for health care professionals: a pilot study with practice nurses. Journal of Nursing Management, 9 (1) January, pp. 39-49. Mason-Whitehead, E. & Mason, T. (2008) Study Skills for Nurses. 2nd ed. London, SAGE Publications Ltd. McMullan, M., Jones, R. & Lea, S. (2011) The effect of an interactive e-drug calculations package on Nursing Students' Drug Calculation ability and self-efficacy. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 80 (6), pp. 421-430. PEDro Scale [Internet], PEDro Scale. Available from: [Accessed 28 February 2012]. Smith, J. & Roberts, R. (2011) Vital Signs for Nurses: An Introduction to Clinical Observations. United Kingdom, Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Watson, J. (2008) Nursing: the Philosophy and Science of Caring. United States of America, University Press of Colorado. Read More