Lifelong learning is a fundamental concept to nursing as practices, knowledge, and skills are ever changing and developing based on new evidence-based practice. Nurses, as well as other healthcare professionals, must show motivation by staying up to date on current practices to be efficient and effective in their care. This can be done through seminars, obtaining certifications, and continuing higher education through a graduate program to a masters or doctorate level.
Learning to be Involved
There are endless possibilities of professional societies and organizations for a nurse to join locally or nationwide. The nurse must decide which organizations are the best fit for them based on their specialty, values, and the required involvement needed to be an active member. Being a part of an organization is more than just a line on a resume but is also a part of the nurse’s routine and foundation. Commitment to these organizations allows the nurse to stay current on developments within their field, gain access to continuing education opportunities and potential networking possibilities, and gives the nurse a place to propose new ideas of practice that could impact their field. However, the nurse must also be aware of the disadvantages of joining an organization. Each organization has their own missions and values that the nurse must compare with their own to ensure a compromise is not being made. With the vast number of organizations available, compromise of core values is unnecessary and could be damaging to a nurse and their practice. Overinvolvement or under involvement in organizations can be detrimental to a nurse for a variety of reasons by either becoming burnt out from too many obligations or not taking advantage of opportunities and missing out on career, professional, and personal development by not actively participating.
One of the most common examples of organizations would be the American Nurses Association and only requires nurses to pay a yearly membership fee based upon the membership option chosen (n.d.). The Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN) would be a potential organization for the nurse in this field because it is the sole organization dedicated to the professional and character development of nurses and other healthcare professionals devoted to this specialty. The organization is open to all interested in Medical-Surgical nursing and only the Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse credential exam is endorsed by the AMSN (2017).
The initial involvement in an organization is as easy as signing up, but the commitment does not stop there if the nurse wants to be actively involved and truly promote change. Nurses can obtain additional certifications recognized by their organizations and attend or lead conferences, seminars, and meetings to provide input on various policies, procedures, and practice that will be taken from the organization to hospital administrators and eventually to the bedside nurse for implementation. Another way nurses can be involved is through staying up to date on current events that may have an impact on the missions or goals of the organization.
Evidence of Learning
The information accessed and obtained by the nurse will be evident in their change of practice. Learning can be seen on a wide scale from the way a nurse changes how they address a patient’s cultural needs to completely embracing a new way to complete a skill built on evidence-based practice. On the condition that the nurse is making positive strides towards character, skill, and professional development, it will be evidenced that knowledge has been solidified and learned. However, if the nurse ignores emerging evidence-based practices, information taught at the seminars, or skills learned through a certification course, then learning has not occurred because it has not been implemented. A stagnant nurse shows that additional education is required and may potentially need an environment of support and encouragement to gain the confidence needed to implement the changes.
Educational Growth
Nursing has differing levels of credentials available that allow an individual to choose what fits their needs. Registered Nurses acquire a license through either an associate or bachelor’s degree program and passing of the state board licensure exam. However, more healthcare facilities are requiring a bachelor’s degree because higher education has been shown to improve patient outcomes and an overall enhanced atmosphere of practice. Continuing education past a bachelor’s degree could be a nursing certification, for example a Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN), or through higher academics with either a masters or a doctoral degree. To obtain a CCRN licensure, a nurse must either have at least 1,750 hours of direct care of patients in the last two years or at least 2,000 hours in the last 5 years, the hours must be among one specific group of patients with the bulk of the hours worked in the direct care of the critically ill, and have passed the certification exam (American, n.d.). Masters and doctoral degrees have different options depending on the career path aspired, but both require higher education in graduate programs.
Personal Growth and Education
My last clinical rotation on the Medical-Surgical unit was special to me because even though I had frustrating moments, I saw myself excited for each clinical day and the patients I was likely to encounter. Those frustrating moments only motivated me to work harder to prevent their reoccurrence and ensured I solidified the knowledge gained throughout school until the information was concrete and second nature upon recollection. My time as a nurse on a Medical-Surgical Unit will grant me openings to research further into each disease process, allowing me to possess a better understanding of my patient’s condition and needs. I learn best through gaining skillsets applied first hand from the knowledge learned, and I will start the continuation of my education by becoming a Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse and joining the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses upon graduation of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program at Longwood University and passing of the state board licensure exam. With time and experience, I look forward to becoming a traveling nurse assigned to various healthcare facilities on a Medical-Surgical Unit. The assignments I accept as a travel nurse will give me an understanding on how different units function, what works well, what does not work, and a general insight of the diversity that exists between different managerial styles. As a strong leader and an empathetic nurse, I will use my time within the various settings to gain experience that will prepare me for my long-term goal as a Medical-Surgical Unit Manager.
Becoming a Unit Manager requires a minimum of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, but I also plan on obtaining a Certified Nurse Manager and Leader credential and joining the American Organization of Nurse Executives after at least five years as a traveling bedside nurse (n.d.). I strive to be a Medical-Surgical Unit Manager to encourage team work and collaboration between staff and in the relationships the nurses will maintain with patients and their families. I will strive to make positive changes on the unit in which I work, first as a bedside nurse and into a manager position, by working with healthcare administrators to either implement or change policies that create an environment to foster the values the facility holds. Even as a manager, I will take shifts at the bedside to get to know the nurses I lead and create a functional relationship with them. In doing so, I will also be able to see first hand what can be done to improve the unit so we may function as a cohesive team with improved retention rates.
Learning independently in nursing can be a tough task because it requires initiative and motivation. I believe that I possess these skills needed to develop as a nurse because I have actively looked for and participated in seminars local to me in order to gain a better understanding of the topics presented. Since I am still relatively new to the field of nursing, I feel that seminars are a great way for me to learn because it provides a path for open discussion to gain further insight, ask questions, and potentially prompt more learning and networking opportunities. In addition, there are medical journals to read and explore for the most current and accepted practices that I may propose to my unit manager for implementation. The advantage to reading medical journals as opposed to only attending seminars is that journals can be read at leisure, do not require a commute, and cite other sources that can be immediately accessed for additional learning.
Conclusion
Continuing education is required by most facilities, but the nurses who pursue these opportunities on their own show a sense of motivation indicative of a competent and well-rounded nurse. As new research emerges, practices will continue to change and develop to promote better patient outcomes and a positive healthcare environment. Nurses must also develop in their knowledge to upkeep the ever-changing information for effective quality care through independent informal learning, certifications, and higher education.
