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Continuing professional development: investment or expectation?
1School of Healthcare Management, Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland. pjoyce@rcsi.ie
Nurses pursue postregistration education primarily for career advancement and to expand their clinical roles. Understanding these motivations is key for effective continuing professional development planning and investment in nursing.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Education
- Professional Development
- Healthcare Workforce Studies
Background:
- Study conducted in an Irish third-level institution.
- Prospective nursing students invited to participate.
- Anonymous postal questionnaire distributed prior to study commencement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the primary drivers for nurses engaging in postregistration education.
- To identify motivations influencing continuing professional development choices in nursing.
Main Methods:
- Descriptive survey research design employed.
- Data collected via postal questionnaires.
- Qualitative data gathered through open-ended comments.
Main Results:
- 243 questionnaires returned, achieving a 46.7% response rate.
- Overwhelmingly, nurses cited 'promotion' (99%) and 'extending clinical role' (98%) as key reasons.
- High participation rates linked to career progression and enhanced clinical practice.
Conclusions:
- Investment in nursing education must align with nurses' motivations for career growth and role expansion.
- Strategic planning for continuing professional development is essential for efficient resource allocation.
- Employers should invest in education to support nursing profession advancement amidst healthcare changes.
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