Professional development for European nurses helps these health professionals continue to learn and expand their skills.

Professional development is essential for the advancement of any career. Accordingly, aid geared toward the professional development of nurses is imperative in order to maintain a progressively improving medical field. Avenues for the professional development of nurses are summarized below.

Nursing Organizations

One of the major purposes of a national and international nursing organization is to bring together experts in particular branches of medicine. This utility not only gives members the capacity to network, it also opens up the opportunity to engage mentorships and share pertinent information as well as resources – both of which can prove invaluable.

The Continuing Professional Development in Nursing Initiative

Consistent with the Lisbon Strategy contrived by the European Council in Lisbon in March of 2000, Continuing Professional Development is an economic developmental initiative specific to the medical field. It concentrates on harmonizing the countries of the European Union in terms of education, training, and professional development so that a certain standard within the healthcare industry throughout Europe is maintained. The intention was to establish this though a set of principles derived from a commitment to patient safety and optimized care with a foundation in supportive legislation. These principles are as follows:

  • Health professionals should maintain their expertise by continually updating their knowledge base regarding their branch of medicine as well as the medical field as a whole
  • The employers of health professionals should support and aid in the continued professional development of their employees
  • Professional organizations should remain in close collaboration with European as well as national incentives and legislation
  • Professional organizations should establish and help maintain national and European learning standards
  • Professional organizations should motivate healthcare professionals to participate in the Continuing Professional Development initiative
  • Professional organizations should disseminate information regarding networks, personal development plans, and recording systems to healthcare professionals in order to expedite their involvement
  • Professional organizations should facilitate a variety of continuing education programs
  • Social partners in the health sector should establish a framework for including continuing professional development in recommendations and social plans within the workplace environment
  • All stakeholders should consider and draw from appropriate sources of funding in order to accumulate resources conducive to continuing professional development

While these principles are constructive and ambitious, most of them have not been fulfilled. The European Union continues to apply these principles and this initiative to the healthcare workforce in order to facilitate continued improvement in accordance to the Lisbon Strategy.

Continuing Nursing Education

The lowest level degree one can earn in order to become a nurse is an Associate’s degree, resulting in the designation as a Licensed Practical Nurse (in the European Union, one must instead enroll in a specific nursing program, then register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council). One can continue their nursing education, though, and earn a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing Science, thus qualifying as a Registered Nurse. A nurse can then pursue continuing education units through seminars, short classes, professional conferences, the internet, and journals. Nurses can thus work for an additional two years through a graduate nursing program pursuant to applying for a Master’s degree in Nursing (MSN). Once a nurse earns his or her MSN, he or she can then access positions among the higher echelons of the nursing field, such as nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse-midwife, nurse anesthetist, and nurse psychotherapist. MSNs also avail the opportunity to become administrative leaders within medical organizations.

Nursing Portfolio

Once a nurse has accumulated enough education as well as expertise, it is advisable to construct a nursing portfolio in order to exemplify personal advancement and appeal for employment or advancement. A nursing portfolio should include:

  • A curriculum vitae
  • Examples of past work
  • Educational advancements, awards, and opportunities
  • Professional contributions
  • Personal recommendations
  • Positions and contributions to committees or organizations
  • Licenses and certifications
  • A list of community involvement
  • Peer and patient reviews
  • Overall nursing experience
  • Nursing safety training