Staying current in the ever-changing world of healthcare requires experienced and new nurses to embrace lifelong learning.
It can often feel overwhelming to balance a demanding schedule, complex patient assignments, family life, and staying up-to-date in your specialty.
The fun part is that there are several ways to remain current in your practice.
Professional Organizations
Nearly every nursing specialty has a professional organization https://nurse.org/orgs.shtml to help its members keep up with the latest changes in practice. Honestly, it’s one of the main reasons nursing has professional organizations.– to offer resources, networking, opportunities, and ongoing education.
Yes, sometimes there are membership fees, but remember your colleagues are running things behind the scenes to keep you informed and nothing is free these days.
By joining a professional organization you can get full access to the organization’s resources and receive discounts on events, conferences or continuing education hours.
Professional organizations range from general associations such as the American Nurses Association (ANA) to more specific associations such as National Academy of Dermatology Nurse Practitioners.
Whatever your nursing speciality, there’s most likely a specific organization with information to keep you ahead in your field. Just ask Sir Google. While you’re at it, check out your local or state nursing organizations too. Many are top-notch and worth every membership penny.
But, be warned, checked out what the organization offers in terms of membership benefits before you turn over your cash.
Some smaller, local organizations have blogs that haven’t been updated since 2012, hold only annual meetings, and–basically–offer no advantages to being a member.
Webinars
The wonder of the webinar is that it is quick, high-quality information without the travel or expense. It’s a win-win!
Most webinars are live or recorded events lead by experts in their fields and are available on demand–whenever it’s good for you: anytime, anywhere.
With so many wide-ranging nursing topics available, it’s easy to pick up those last few CEUs needed for our license renewal. And, sometimes you don’t even have to look that hard to find free webinars.
Conferences
Most conferences are the result of professional organizations or other networks who gather leading influencers to speak, share advancements, and allow for networking.
Conferences are an awesome way to expand your knowledge base, pick up more CEUs, and get up-to-date information in your nursing field.
Check with you manager or leadership team because several organizations offer conference reimbursements, especially when you’re able to bring back the information and share it with your leadership team and colleagues.
Continuing Education Courses
The majority of us need those pesky little CEUs for continued licensure. Even if you aren’t required to have CEU for licensure renewal, CEUs are an incredible way to remain up-to-date in your field or to learn something new outside your speciality.
Most are provided through online learning portals in the form of a class or seminar.
Just make sure they’re timely. Healthcare and medical information can evolve quickly, so check the dates and check the speaker’s resources prior to swiping your credit card.
A Word of Warning about Social Media, Videos, and Podcasts
Okay, okay….hear me out on this one.
I’ve used social media myself to find up-to-date information in my field, BUT I don’t swallow the information without ensuring that it’s accurate and thorough.
There are Facebook groups and forums where professionals share information and ideas. There are amazing YouTube videos teaching incredible information and there are podcasts where professionals share their incredible knowledge.
And all of this is great! However, I urge you to always always always check the information or ideas being shared with the latest nursing literature or with your professional organization.
I certainly use all of these sources–but not as resources.
I encourage you to use them more as a starting point from which to discover trends, learn about innovations, and recognize progress.
Stick to using professional individuals, organizations, and facilities as your main resources for all nursing information.
Staying current in your practice and keeping lifelong learning exciting isn’t that hard when you have the right resources in place.
