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8th US-Russian Nursing Conference Cruise |
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The Challenge of Continuing Professional Competency Lyn DeSilets EdD, RN,BC Background for Discussion Topic The nurse owes the same duties to self as to others, including the responsibility to preserve integrity and safety, maintain competence, and continue personal and professional growth. The nurse carries personal responsibility for nursing practice and for maintaining competence by continual learning. The American Nurses Association Code of Ethics for Nurses identifies the nurses' responsibility to practice in a competent manner. The International Council of Nurses' Code of Ethics also identifies the nurses' responsibility and accountability to maintain competence by continual learning. Competence can be defined as the knowledge and skills necessary for safe, effective care of clients. In today's health care environment knowledge and skills are far from static. Research into best practices is on-going. Standards for competent practice change and are supplemented by new findings almost daily. There is no uniform agreement on how competence should be assessed or whose responsibility it is: the practitioner, the employer, a certifying body, or a licensure board. In some of the United States, licensure laws include mandatory continuing education requirements for re licensure. In other states there is an assumption the individual practitioners will be responsible for their own professional lifelong learning. There are Canadian provinces that accept portfolios to demonstrate continued competence. In Russia examination is the standard method for a nurse to use to demonstrate competence. The link between regulatory practices and the maintenance of professional abilities is an area that is open for discussion as well as for continued study. Three Key Questions to Stimulate Group Interaction:
Two Key Learnings for Participants (objectives) At the end of this discussion, participants will be able to:
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