Continuing Competence in
Nursing
Continuing Competence in
Nursing
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What is continuing competence?
Why is continuing competence
important?
How do you evaluate continuing
competence?
What is Continuing
Competence?
ANA Standards of Professional
Nursing Practice
Standards of Practice
Standards of Professional
Performance
Standards of Practice
1. Assessment
2. Diagnosis
3. Outcomes Identification
4. Planning
5. Implementation
6. Evaluation
Standards of Professional
Performance
7. Ethics
8. Education
9. Evidence-Based
Practice and
Research
10. Quality or Practice
11. Communication
12. Leadership
13. Collaboration
14. Professional
Practice
Evaluation
15. Resource
Utilization
16. Environmental
Health
8. Education
The registered nurse attains
knowledge and competency that
reflects current nursing practice.
The registered nurse:
● Participates in ongoing educational
activities related to appropriate
knowledge bases and professional
issues.
8. Education cont’d
● Demonstrates a commitment to
lifelong learning through self-reflection
and inquiry to address learning and
personal growth needs.
● Seeks experiences that reflect
current practice to maintain
knowledge, skills, abilities, and
judgment in clinical practice or role
performance.
8. Education cont’d
● Acquires knowledge and skills
appropriate to the role, population,
specialty, setting, role, or situation.
● Seeks formal and independent
learning experiences to develop and
maintain clinical and professional skills
and knowledge.
8. Education cont’d
● Identifies learning needs based on
nursing knowledge, the various roles
the nurse may assume, and the
changing needs of the population.
● Participates in formal or informal
consultations to address issues in
nursing practice as an application of
education and a knowledge base.
8. Education cont’d
● Shares educational findings,
experiences, and ideas with peers.
● Contributes to a work environment
conducive to the education of
healthcare professionals.
● Maintains professional records that
provide evidence of competence and
lifelong learning.
9. Evidence-Based Practice and
Research
The registered nurse integrates
evidence and research findings into
practice.
The registered nurse:
● Utilizes current evidence-based
nursing knowledge, including research
findings, to guide practice.
9. Evidence-Based Practice and
Research cont’d
● Incorporates evidence when
initiating changes in nursing practice.
● Participates, as appropriate to
education level and position, in the
formulation of evidence-based practice
through research.
● Shares personal or third-party
research findings with colleagues and
peers.
14. Professional Practice Evaluation
The registered nurse evaluates her or his
own nursing practice in relation to
professional practice standards and
guidelines, relevant statutes, rules, and
regulations.
The registered nurse:
● Provides age-appropriate and
developmentally appropriate care in a
culturally and ethnically sensitive manner.
14. Professional Practice Evaluation
cont’d
● Engages in self-evaluation of practice on a
regular basis, identifying areas of strength
as well as areas in which professional
growth would be beneficial.
● Obtains informal feedback regarding her
or his own practice from healthcare
consumers, peers, professional colleagues,
and others.
● Participates in peer review as
appropriate.
14. Professional Practice Evaluation
cont’d
● Takes action to achieve goals
identified during the evaluation
process.
● Provides the evidence for practice
decisions and actions as part of the
informal and formal evaluation
processes.
14. Professional Practice Evaluation
cont’d
● Interacts with peers and colleagues
to enhance her or his own professional
nursing practice or role performance.
● Provides peers with formal or
informal constructive feedback
regarding their practice or role
performance.
ADMINISTRATIVE RULES OF
MONTANA
ADMINISTRATIVE RULES OF
MONTANA 12/31/10 24-16805
NURSING 24.159.2102
Subchapter 21
Renewals and Continuing Education
Administrative Rules cont’d
24.159.2101 STANDARDS FOR CONTINUING
EDUCATION
(1)Continuing education for nurses is formal
training that:
(a) provides new knowledge and skills to assist
with advanced clinical
decision making;
(b) offers greater depth of knowledge and skills in
a particular area of nursing
role or practice;
(c) enhances professional attitudes and behaviors;
Administrative Rules cont’d
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(d) advances career goals;
(e) promotes professional development and
currency in nursing practice;
(f) supports innovation and creativity in nursing
practice;
(g) implements change within the individual's
nursing practice and within
healthcare; or
(h) addresses new and developing standards of
nursing practice.
Why Is Continuing Competence
Important?
ANA Nursing Code of Ethics
Provision 5: The nurse owes the same
duties to self as to others, including the
responsibility to preserve integrity and
safety, to maintain competence, and to
continue personal and professional
growth.
Nursing Code of Ethic cont’d
5.2 Professional growth and
maintenance of competence – Though
it has consequences for others,
maintenance of competence and
ongoing professional growth involves
the control of one’s own conduct in a
way that is primarily self-regarding.
Competence affects one’s self-respect,
self-esteem, professional status, and
the meaningfulness of work.
Nursing Code of Ethic cont’d
In all nursing roles, evaluation of one’s
own performance, coupled with peer
review, is a means by which nursing
practice can be held to the highest
standards. Each nurse is responsible
for participating in the development of
criteria for evaluation of practice and
for using those criteria in peer and selfassessment.
Nursing Code of Ethic cont’d
Continual professional growth,
particularly in knowledge and skill,
requires a commitment to lifelong
learning. Such learning includes, but
is not limited to, continuing education,
networking with professional
colleagues, self-study, professional
reading, certification, and seeking
advanced degrees.
Nursing Code of Ethic cont’d
Nurses are required to have
knowledge relevant to the current
scope and standards of nursing
practice, changing issues, concerns,
controversies, and ethics.
Where the care required is outside the
competencies of the individual nurse,
consultation should be sought or the
patient should be referred to others for
appropriate care.
How Do You Evaluate Continuing
Competence?
Tools
Nursing Professional Development
Planner
A tool to assist in evaluating your
nursing practice
Video Clips
14. Professional Practice Evaluation
The registered nurse evaluates her or
his own nursing practice in relation to
professional practice standards and
guidelines, relevant statutes, rules,
and regulations.
The registered nurse:
● Provides age-appropriate and
developmentally appropriate care in a
culturally and ethnically sensitive
manner.
14. Professional Practice Evaluation
cont’d
● Engages in self-evaluation of practice
on a regular basis, identifying areas of
strength as well as areas in which
professional growth would be
beneficial.
● Obtains informal feedback regarding
her or his own practice from healthcare
consumers, peers, professional
colleagues, and others.
14. Professional Practice Evaluation
cont’d
● Participates in peer review as
appropriate.
● Takes action to achieve goals identified
during the evaluation process.
● Provides the evidence for practice
decisions and actions as part of the
informal and formal evaluation
processes.
14. Professional Practice Evaluation
cont’d
● Interacts with peers and colleagues to
enhance her or his own professional
nursing practice or role performance.
● Provides peers with formal or informal
constructive feedback regarding their
practice or role performance.