Continuing professional development: evaluating a masterclass for band 5 children's nurses.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Professional Development
• Healthcare Workforce

Background:

• Continuing professional development (CPD) is crucial for staff recruitment and retention in healthcare.
• Budget constraints pose challenges for offering CPD, necessitating tailored initiatives by local organizations.
• NHS organizations and higher education providers are key in developing fit-for-purpose CPD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a CPD masterclass on band 5 children's nurses.
• Assessing changes in career planning and self-efficacy among pediatric nurses.
• Understanding nurses' perceptions of CPD opportunities.

Main Methods:

• A one-day CPD masterclass workshop was delivered to 14 band 5 children's nurses.
• Participant questionnaires were administered pre-masterclass, post-masterclass, and at a three-month follow-up.
• The Occupational Self-Efficacy Scale was used to measure changes in confidence.

Main Results:

• All participants developed a career plan post-masterclass, an increase from 79% prior.
• Nurses reported increased confidence in handling challenging work situations.
• Participants valued dedicated time for CPD and peer discussion.

Conclusions:

• CPD time, career development pathways, and workplace culture are vital for band 5 children's nurses.
• Enhancing learning and development opportunities positively impacts nurse confidence.
• Effective CPD strategies should consider these key factors for pediatric nursing staff.