Measuring Return on Investment for Professional Development Activities: 2026 Known Cost of Outcomes Table and...

Area of Science:

• Nursing Professional Development
• Healthcare Economics
• Educational Program Evaluation

Background:

• Nursing professional development practitioners (NPDPs) have increasingly focused on quantifying the economic impact of their educational initiatives over the last decade.
• Measuring financial outcomes is crucial for demonstrating the value of nursing professional development (NPD) programs and ensuring continued support.
• Recent challenges, including pandemic setbacks, highlight the need for robust methods to assess economic impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent literature on measuring the economic impact of nursing professional development educational activities.
• To update the Known Cost of Outcomes table for use in economic impact analysis.
• To explore the potential of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in supporting economic impact analysis for NPD.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent studies on economic impact assessment in nursing professional development.
• Updating the "Known Cost of Outcomes" table with current data.
• Exploration of generative artificial intelligence applications for economic impact analysis.

Main Results:

• The literature review indicates a growing trend in measuring economic impact, despite pandemic-related challenges.
• The "Known Cost of Outcomes" table has been updated to reflect current financial data.
• Generative AI presents a promising avenue for enhancing the efficiency and scope of economic impact analyses.

Conclusions:

• NPDPs are urged to consistently measure, validate, and publish the financial outcomes of their programs.
• Collective publication of financial outcomes will strengthen the evidence base for the economic value of NPD.
• Demonstrating economic impact is essential for gaining and maintaining support and resources for NPD programming.