Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Learning Needs Assessment for Nursing Professional Development...

Area of Science:

• Nursing Professional Development
• Healthcare Education
• Professional Standards Implementation

Background:

• The 2022 Association for Nursing Professional Development Scope and Standards of Practice provides a framework for the profession.
• Nursing professional development departments require effective methods for assessing educational needs.
• Operationalizing standards into practical tools is crucial for advancing nursing practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the operationalization of the 2022 Association for Nursing Professional Development Scope and Standards of Practice into a learning needs assessment (LNA) survey.
• To highlight a collaborative approach to LNA design, implementation, and evaluation within a system-level education department.
• To identify educational improvement areas, barriers, and critical competencies for nursing professional development practitioners.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive study design was employed.
• A collaborative approach involved LNA design, implementation, and evaluation.
• A learning needs assessment (LNA) survey was conducted among nursing professional development practitioners.

Main Results:

• The LNA survey successfully operationalized the nursing professional development standards.
• Key areas for educational improvement within nursing professional development were identified.
• Barriers to nursing professional development and critical competencies were determined.

Conclusions:

• The integration of professional standards into an LNA survey is feasible and effective.
• Collaborative LNA processes enhance the identification of educational needs and practice barriers.
• The findings provide a model for other nursing professional development departments seeking to align practice with standards.