How to organize a professional portfolio for staff and career development

Professional portfolio development is an innovative way for staff development departments to assist staff nurse in showcasing their professional accomplishments. Whether preparing staff for their annual performance appraisal, the human resources portion of a Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations survey, personal career development, or career transitions in the volatile healthcare job market, the staff development department plays a pivotal role in portfolio development. Although the literature describes the types of documents to include in a professional portfolio, missing is practical information on how to organize a professional portfolio. In this article, the authors describe how to organize a professional portfolio, identify the most useful components, and outline the role the staff development department plays in professional portfolio development.