Dr. Teresa Shellenbarger is a Professor in the Department of Nursing and Allied Health Professions at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pennsylvania. She teaches courses in the master's and doctoral program focusing on nursing education, research, and role development. Throughout her career of more than 25 years as a nurse educator, she has prepared those who will enter into nursing professional development (NPD) and faculty positions. Dr. Shellenbarger has expertise in program assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation; innovative teaching strategies; and technology use in education, leadership, and professional role/career development. She is a National League for Nursing certified nurse educator and an inaugural fellow in the National League for Nursing Academy of Nursing Education.

1. What are the significant professional milestones in your career journey?

T. S.: My educational background stands out as a critically important milestone in my professional career. I was fortunate to be enrolled in a Master's of Science in Nursing program that included a specialization in nursing education. These early courses in my graduate education sparked my love for education and enabled me to obtain the foundational knowledge of teaching strategies, program development, and evaluation that would serve me well throughout my career. I continued my education and obtained a PhD in nursing. This advanced degree also had a nursing education focus. In this program, I learned the important skills related to research and using data collection to establish the science behind educational work. These educational opportunities fueled my passion for teaching, while providing me the essential knowledge and background that allowed me to emerge as a leader who is engaged in preparing future nurse educators. I've had the opportunity to work with enthusiastic learners, supportive colleagues, and leaders in national nursing organizations who have served as wonderful role models.

2. How have you seen the specialty of NPD grow/evolve/change during your career?

T. S.: During my career, I've seen numerous changes in NPD. Educators have moved from a focus on training, to helping nurses to think and problem solve in the challenging situations that they face. Educators now help to foster clinical reasoning and enhanced clinical judgment. We have moved from following traditions of care and education, to relying on sound evidence to guide what we do as nurses and NPD practitioners.

I've also seen the specialty of NPD develop during my career. Thanks to a variety of initiatives, NPD practitioners now have the opportunity to be exposed to wonderful learning experiences at exceptional local and national conferences. Additionally, published resources such as the Journal for Nurses in Professional Development and the Nursing Professional Development Scope and Standards of Practice (American Nurses Association and National Nursing Staff Development Organization, 2010) now provide additional support for the work we do. Another change that I've seen is that NPD practitioners now routinely incorporate research and evidence-based practice into their work.

3. What do you see as significant trends or gaps in NPD practice from your perspective as an expert in education?

T. S.: There are a number of trends in NPD practice that impact our work. Advancing technology continues to influence all that we do in health care and education. From using simulation to ensure realistic clinical learning and practice opportunities, to the use of electronic health records and electronic documentation, to the availability of electronic devices and apps that assist with information retrieval or Web-based learning, technology has changed what happens in health care and ultimately NPD. Nurses and those in NPD need to embrace the technology and use it to assist us in our work.

Another trend impacting NPD is cost containment. NPD practitioners need to justify what we do and be cognizant of the impact of cost. We need to use sound data gathering techniques to ensure we have the appropriate information for decision making. Evidence should guide what we do in our practice.

In our work in NPD, we interact with diverse groups. The changing healthcare workforce has learners with unique and varied background and skills, and we must deliver effective education to best address those needs. We are also seeing an increased emphasis on an interprofessional healthcare team. NPD practitioners need to ensure that staff have the necessary skills to communicate effectively and appropriately collaborate in these diverse teams so they can provide appropriate care for these acute patients in an increasingly complex healthcare system.

4. What insights can you share related to the value of NPD in healthcare organizations now and in the future?

T. S.: With the proper education, nurses can help to address the challenging issues that they face. They can provide safe, cost-effective, quality patient care that meets the needs of all stakeholders. However, those in NPD have a duty to collect data about what they do and the impact that it makes. NPD practitioners need to document the effectiveness of their work and gather evidence to demonstrate the impact of what they do.

5. What advice do you have for NPD practitioners in the context of today's healthcare and learning environments?

T. S.: My advice to NPD practitioners is to look at the culture in which they work and help to create a positive environment. So often in NPD, we face diminishing resources, limited support, reduced budgets, and uncivil work environments. NPD practitioners are asked to take on more and more responsibilities with less help. When encountering these challenging situations, NPD practitioners have to move beyond focusing on the negatives, and think in new and creative ways. Embrace the change, seize the opportunity to try new approaches, and use these experiences to grow. Leaders in NPD have the power to make an impact on those we work with, the healthcare environment, and ultimately, those we serve. We need to support and mentor those around us. Routinely focusing on the positive aspect of our environment and expressing gratitude to others can enhance the culture. Even though things may not always go as planned, we have the power to control the way we respond, and this ultimately shapes our environment.

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