What an exciting time to be in nursing professional development (NPD)! Our specialty is at the heart of change in health care-we are transforming health care by bringing evidence and insights to the decision-making table. Transformational leaders inspire others to achieve more than what was thought possible: leading with confidence and authenticity, shepherding and inspiring others to follow, and creating a sense of commitment. NPD specialists are in pivotal roles, with opportunities to influence and leverage our expertise to enhance patient care and the environment in which nurses practice. The relationships we build and nurture with staff, leaders, and colleagues enhance our ability to influence. Others listen to what we say because we have established credibility for bringing evidence-based practice and practice-based evidence to the decision-making table. We have a proven track record of outcomes related to increased quality of care and patient safety.
How do we stay inspired and continue to be innovative when we are challenged with day-to-day priorities? How do we stay current on evidence-based practice? How do we show return on investment (ROI)? We innovate by learning from our peers and colleagues. The Nursing Professional Development Scope and Standards of Practice (American Nurses Association & National Nursing Staff Development Organization, 2010) states "the NPD specialist interacts with peers, students, colleagues, and others to enhance professional nursing, nursing professional development practice, and role performance of self and others" (p. 35).
Our recent Journal for Nurses in Professional Development (JNPD) Web site poll asked what topics are most urgent related to your organization's strategic goals. The number one answer was ROI and program evaluation. However, I often hear from NPD specialists that they do not have enough time to research best practices for doing so. I challenge us to commit to accessing best practices from our NPD peers.
Learning from peers takes many forms. Our upcoming ANPD convention, "Aspire to Excel," is an excellent opportunity to learn how to address barriers and accelerate change. Some of the most significant learning occurs when talking with speakers after their presentations or with peers between concurrent sessions. JNPD continues to focus on ROI. The Nurse Residency column in this issue focuses on the National Council of State Boards of Nursing multiyear study on graduate nurse transition to practice. The JNPD Web site features published ahead-of-print and online-only articles in our specialty. A new feature to the Journal, "From the Front Lines to the Back Page," will include concise descriptions of NPD projects and challenges faced, resources needed, outcomes identified, key stakeholders involved, risks and obstacles encountered, and project outcomes. We envision this feature will provide you with information to share with leaders in your organization, as you advocate for your learners' needs.
Recently, I was discussing with an NPD colleague about her organization's approach to enhanced patient flow. She shared the nurse navigator role that was implemented in her organization. The nurse navigator role was improved based on feedback from patients and evaluation of patient flow. The NPD specialist was critical in these improvements, including obtaining feedback from patients during rounds, evaluating data in collaboration with the quality improvement team, and facilitating targeted learning activities. She shared, "off the record" their lessons learned, and offered advice for others on this journey.
As I network with NPD peers, I always learn. Always. I am inspired by our colleagues' innovation, persistence in addressing barriers, and commitment to excellence. I leave those interactions inspired-committed to continually learn and role model. We are transformational leaders, enhancing the healthcare environment for our patients and our staff.
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