"I love what I do, but I have so much more to learn." "How does the Educator learn about best practices for educating?"
"Where is MY network of peers?"
"I need a mentor, where do I find one?"
Have any of these thoughts crossed your mind? Do you want to develop your own skills in the roles of a nursing professional development (NPD) practitioner? If so, get involved with the Association for Nursing Professional Development (ANPD).
Your first question might be, what is an NPD practitioner? Am I one? Though you may have one of many titles (unit educator, professional development specialist, orientation program coordinator, education specialist, director of the center for nursing excellence, etc.), the 2022 NPD scope and standards clearly defines this role. "The NPD practitioner is a registered nurse (RN) with NPD practice judgment and expertise who influences professional role competence and growth of learners in a variety of settings with the desired outcome of improved population health" (Harper & Maloney, 2022, p. 16).
This broad definition includes nurses who orient and develop others in all types of settings. For example, the population you focus on could be RNs, unlicensed assistive personnel, everyone managing seizure patients, outpatient staff, advance practice nurses, nurse residents, all the nurses in your state, clinical employees in multiple sites in your system, or any other clinical/professional team. No matter what learners you are responsible for, their role competence and on-going growth improve the health of the population they serve. Therefore, through influence from your NPD practice judgment and expertise, you affect outcomes for the population.
If you have determined that you are an NPD practitioner, how do you develop your own skills? According to the NPD practice model (Harper & Maloney, 2022), there are two inputs to the system: the learner and the NPD practitioner. The NPD practitioner uses seven roles with the guidance of the 18 standards to accomplish their responsibilities (throughputs). The NPD roles are (a) learning facilitator, (b) change agent, (c) mentor, (d) leader, (e) champion for scientific inquiry, (f) advocate for NPD specialty, and (g) partner for practice transitions. Developing knowledge, skills, and behaviors of these seven roles is a career-long endeavor.
If you are relatively new in your role of developing professionals, there are recommendations to facilitate your professional growth. Your focus is inward to your unit and your job, until you master the day-to-day.
Learn to network internally. Networking within your organization with other NPD practitioners, departments, and interprofessional groups can help you (a) observe those who role model organizational savvy, (b) reduce your workload by sharing education products, and (c) identify mentors to coach and guide your professional development.
Learn to network externally. Networking outside your organization opens your worldview and often shines light on solutions to challenging problems that other NPD practitioners have already tackled. Being actively involved as an ANPD member is an excellent external networking strategy. Active involvement could be a combination of participating in monthly ANPD webinars or recordings, regularly reviewing NPD in Motion and Journal for Nurses in Professional Development (JNPD), and basing your practice on evidence.
Learn roles and responsibilities. The NPD practice model describes the seven roles and six responsibilities of an NPD practitioner (Harper & Maloney, 2022). Understanding this model starts the preparation for certification, when you are eligible, and it orients you to the knowledge and skills needed for professional growth. Ask people to mentor you on projects or programs you are working on.
If you are 3-5 years into your NPD practitioner role, additional career development should be your focus. Begin looking beyond your clinical area and beyond your organization to network and find solutions to problems.
Become certified. Preparing for certification broadens your scope beyond your organization. Looking outward regionally or nationally for standards in your practice helps you problem solve with a greater repertoire of ideas.
Advance academic preparation. Return to school for a graduate degree with a focus on teaching, learning, and change management in healthcare systems.
Share what you learn. Submit an abstract for a poster or podium presentation to the ANPD Convention to communicate what worked and did not work with your learning activities or projects. Write an article or contribute to body of knowledge about NPD practice. You can start with NPD in Motion or an JNPD article. Offer to mentor other NPD practitioners as needed.
Up the networking effort externally. Participate in the ANPD Convention and the local ANPD affiliate meetings (if available in your area). Volunteer for an ANPD committee or task force. Become a subject matter expert for programs/products being developed at ANPD.
Finally, if you are very experienced as an NPD practitioner, your focus is developing your leadership in regional and national arenas. Depending on your experience, you may direct your growth effort to certain roles. The most frequently reported "weak spots" at this point are "champion for scientific inquiry" and "advocating for the specialty." Here are a few ways to grow as an experienced NPD practitioner.
Contribute as a content expert. Item writers for certification examinations, reviewers for developed content, and presenter for a webinar are all ways you can share your expertise.
Consider advanced NPD certification. With a body of NPD work, you are eligible to create a portfolio for advanced certification.
Lead within ANPD. Become a committee or task force chairperson. Consider nomination for a position on ANPD Board of Directors.
Share your expertise. Publish your successes and challenges in peer-reviewed journals to advance the practice of NPD.
For your reference, the "Pathway to Leadership in ANPD" is available under resources on the ANPD website. You will find best practices for almost everything you are responsible for in your NPD practitioner role by reaching out to fellow members in ANPD. Through committee involvement and participation at the Annual National Convention, you have opportunity to meet and be mentored by experts across the country.
Invest in developing yourself as much as you assess learning needs and plan development activities for your team. You will both benefit for the effort.
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