Professional development for oncology nurses: a commitment to lifelong learning

Think back to the day you graduated from your entry-level nursing program. The feelings we experienced at that time are likely universal, whether that day was one year ago or more than 40 years ago. No more tests, no more papers, no more clinical skills practice, and no more preparing the dreaded nursing care plan. School was finished. We all looked forward to passing our nursing boards and getting our first real nursing jobs. Certainly, we all had some vague idea that during our life as nurses we would, at some time, have to learn a new skill, or work with a new type of equipment; however, many of us did not seriously contemplate or acknowledge that we were embarking on a career path that expected us to be lifelong learners. Little did we know that engaging in the process of lifelong learning is not necessarily something that comes naturally; it is, in fact, a personal commitment that each of us makes to the pursuit of learning throughout our professional career.