Topic: Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is a mandatory
requirement to maintain a nurse’s registration, to ensure they are able to
maintain and enhance their knowledge, skills and performance to deliver safe
patient care. Yet the minimum number of hours required is difficult for many
nurses to attain, and can take away from the time needed for patient care.
According to Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), it
is stated that “Under the National Law, which governs the operations of the National
Boards and AHPRA, all registered health practitioners must undertake Continuous
Professional Development (CPD)” (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation
Agency, 2017). For healthcare professionals wanting to deliver quality care and meet
the public's changing health care needs, nurses must be up to date with professional
knowledge, to ensure that the best care can be given to the patient (Australian Health
Practitioner Regulation Agency, 2017).CPD is a progress offered to healthcare
professionals, intending to advance and broaden their knowledge, skill and
competence to grow as a professional (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation
Agency, 2017). The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) further
outlines a set of nursing values and standards, that supports the requirements of CPD
for Registered Nurses (RN) (Registered nurse standards for practice, 2016). This
essay will outline why it is important to accomplish the requirements of CPD and will
also address the NMBA standards that support this position. Furthermore, it will
consider an opposing view, whether if the full 20 hours is needed and if CPD
components are necessary for RN’s to complete yearly.
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For RN’s, it is expected to complete 20 hours of continuous professional
development, to be able to care for patients safely and to competently carry out tasks
and procedures for patients care (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency,
2017). These hours can be attainable at any time during within a twelve-month frame
period before registration(Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, 2017).
CPD has different types of learning styles and approaches among incorporating a
perspective of formal/ informal information sessions and learning activities
(Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, 2017). This can be offered in the
involvement of mandatory learning activities in the workplace such as manual
handling, infection control, Self-directed learning, conferences/ seminars and other
training events and assessments to build up the recommended accreditation points
(Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, 2017). It is important to keep a
record of what key components of CPD that has been completed, as not everyone will
be audited, but it is essential that RN’s are able to supply certified documentation as
evidence if asked (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, 2017). In
today’s world of nursing, strategies, policies and techniques changes quickly to
answer to the demands of today’s evolving health care system, it is vital to meet the
requirements of changing health needs of the patients (Harkness & DeMarco, 2012).
Therefore the RN must continue education to be more knowledgeable (Harkness &
DeMarco, 2012). It is crucial for RN’s to take on the opportunity and extra measures
of CPD as it influences and benefit the patient’s life and health conditions vastly
(Hummerston, 2017).