Pathway to excellence: a peer based program in continuing education

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Continuing Professional Development
• Acute Care Practice

Background:

• Maintaining current knowledge and skills is crucial for acute care nurses.
• Increasing complexity in healthcare settings presents challenges to professional competency.
• Staff nurses require accessible and effective continuing education opportunities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel continuing education program designed for acute care staff nurses.
• To address the learning needs of nurses in rapidly evolving clinical environments.
• To present a sustainable model for professional development in nursing.

Main Methods:

• Development of a peer-led educational initiative titled "Pathway to Excellence: Continuing Professional Education."
• Implementation strategy focused on nurses educating fellow nurses.
• Designed for adaptability across diverse clinical practice areas within acute care.

Main Results:

• The program provides a structured approach to continuous learning for nursing staff.
• Peer-to-peer education model facilitates knowledge sharing and skill enhancement.
• The program is designed for broad applicability in various acute care settings.

Conclusions:

• The "Pathway to Excellence" program offers a practical solution for ongoing professional development in acute care nursing.
• Nurse-led education is an effective strategy for maintaining and advancing clinical competency.
• This model supports nurses in meeting their learning needs and improving patient care outcomes.