Continuing education to achieve personal and professional development is not only critical to safe and effective nursing care but also acts to fulfill the professional and legal responsibility of nurses to update their knowledge (Ewin, Rowles, & Watkins, 2012; Kumar, 2007; Witt, 2011). This paper demonstrates how professional values, service, and accountability can be integrated into a plan for personal, intellectual, and professional development.
Values not only identify the standards of behavior but also represent basic convictions of what is viewed as a right, good or desirable in various social and professional settings (Jemenez-Lopez, Roales-Nieto, Seco, & Preciado, 2016). The most important values for my development plan include social justice, integrity, competence, the importance of human relationships, as well as dignity and worth for others (Cormatin & Gonzalez-Prendes, 2011).
The service component is important in developing a plan for personal, intellectual, and professional development. A good plan will entail aspects of how to achieve knowledge-based practice through current evidence and how to develop and communicate plans of care (Cormatin & Gonzalez-Prendes, 2011). Professional accountability is important in maintaining standards of nursing practice and professional conduct as enshrined in various nursing legislations (Professional Standards, 2013). It is important to include the component of professional accountability in the plan to not only expand the knowledge base on how to take responsibility for own nursing actions and professional conduct but also to broaden the competencies needed to operate within the legally recognized scope of practice and within all relevant state and federal legislation (Broad & Evans, 2006; Professional Standards, 2013).
Overall, it can be concluded that the three components must be considered in ensuring a well-rounded, holistic plan for personal, intellectual and professional development.
References
Broad, K., & Evans, M. (2006). A review of literature on professional development content and delivery modes for experienced teachers.
Cormatin, E.B., & Gonzalez-Prendes, A. (2011). Dissonance between personal and professional values: Resolution of an ethical dilemma. Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics, 8(2), 1-14.
Ewin, H.H., Rowles, C.D., & Watkins, J.F. (2012). Professional and personal development in contemporary doctoral education. Educational Gerontology,38(1), 42-55.
Jemenez-Lopez, F.R., Roales-Nieto, J.G., Seco, G.V., & Preciado, J. (2016). Values in nursing students and professionals: An exploratory comparative study. Nursing Ethics, 23(1), 79-91.
Kumar, A. (2007). Personal, academic and career development in higher education: Soaring to success. New York, NY: Routledge.
Professional standards for registered nurses and nurse practitioners. (2013). Web.
Witt, C.L. (2011). Continuing education: A personal responsibility. Advances in Neonatal Care, 11(4), 227-228.