Running head: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (PDP)
Professional Development Plan (PDP)
Maggie Siler
Ferris State University
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (PDP)
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Abstract
It is a critical part of professional nursing to analyze ones current behaviors and compare them to
best practice standards as set forth by the American Nursing Association (ANA) and the
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). Within the body of this paper I will
review my personal practice of nursing and compare it with those standards. This paper will
contain reflections of my current strengths and weaknesses as well as review my future goals and
plans.
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Professional Development Plan (PDP)
As a vigilant nurse I make it a high priority to evaluate my practice on a routine basis in
order to review my strengths and weaknesses. These actions result in improvement of my
performance and help to advance me as a professional nurse. I believe my individual actions
also reflect on the practice of nursing as a whole therefore improving our standing as a true
profession. The American Nursing Association (ANA) and the American Association of
Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) are both organizations that represent millions of nurses in many
specialties and set high standards which we should all strive to uphold daily. The Standards of
Professional Performance (ANA 2010, p. 47-62) serve as a baseline for comparison and review
of our individual practices and are set forth in Nursing: Scope and standards of practice.
(American Nurses Association [ANA], 2010, p. 47-62). The following is a review and
comparison of my practice to those standards and a plan for improvement, ongoing evaluation
and future goals.
ANA Standards vs. Current Professional Behaviors
Nurses are truly the glue that holds health care together. The ANA provides us with best
practice standards to ensure quality as well as definitions of those standards to help us
individually evaluate our strengths and weaknesses. This all gives strength to the bond which we
provide. The following is a review and comparison of my practice to the Standards of
Professional Performance (ANA, 2010, p. 47-62).
Standard 7: Ethics
“The nurse’s primary commitment is to the patient” as stated in the Code of Ethics for
Nurses (ANA Nursing World, 2011) is truly the basis for my practice. By treating not only the
patient and family but all involved in their care with the same respect and dignity I would expect
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to receive helps ensure quality. This includes everything from politely introducing myself to
others and prominently displaying my name badge to helping foster a healthy work environment
daily with a positive attitude and strong work ethic. I ensure confidentiality (ANA, 2010, p. 47)
and completeness of care in a number of ways. Careful, private review of each chart with
patient/family, answering questions and confirming understanding of intended procedure(s)
before taking the patient to the cath lab are very important steps. Communicating any concerns
raised to the entire team (and initiating changes made based on those) are only a few of the ways
my practice is validated as ethical.
Standard 8: Education
As a long term nurse I have always valued the importance of continued education (ANA,
2010, p. 49). I was initially an LPN (1980), then returned for my ADN (1988), obtained my
CCRN (1996) and my RCIS (2010). Regular attendance at many different conferences and
many online CEU’s supplied through the AACN website (American Association of Critical Care
Nurses, 2011) and Medscape (Medscape Nurses Education, 2011), along with routine in-services
at work have helped to keep me current. When a particularly interesting topic comes up I make
sure to pass it along to my peers. It is also rewarding to teach the student nurses and EMT’s that
rotate through our unit about all the very interesting and exciting things that go on in the cath
lab! I am now in the process of obtaining my BSN which feels very good after so many years of
desiring that goal.
Standard 9: Evidence Based Practice and Research
With our health care dollars becoming more limited in supply daily, reimbursement is often
tied to the utilization of evidence based care (ANA, 2010, p. 51). In my work setting of the cath
lab the procedures and equipment are not only lifesaving but very costly. We are always striving
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to provide not only best practice but also the most current evidence based care in order to
achieve the safest, most cost effective outcomes for each of our patients. A few examples of our
evidence based practices include: patient/family education, type and duration of antiplatelet
therapy, type of stent chosen, and STEMI protocols to improve reperfusion times for those
patients. I currently serve on the regional STEMI committee and am helping to develop
improved family communications and public education. We routinely share the latest
information at either our staff meetings or at a weekly conference that includes cardiologists,
nurses and technologists.
Standard 10: Quality of Practice
In keeping with the quality of practice standard (ANA, 2010, p. 52) throughout my career I
have continued my education (formal as well as informal). I have obtained and maintained
specialty certifications as both CCRN as well as RCIS. One of my goals is to keep a more
organized professional portfolio which includes all my associations, education and certifications,
especially as the list continues to grow. The courses provided in this program will help me do
that. In committee work I have made a strong contribution to our hospitals diabetic initiative by
helping to rework the entire protocol to include outpatients. I currently serve on our regional
STEMI committee to help streamline and improve the quality of care and education for that
patient population.
Standard 11: Communication
The art of engaged communication is an essential part of being a quality nurse. Skilled
communication is even part of the AACN standards for a healthy work environment (American
Association of Critical Care Nurses, 2011). In today’s world of health care we must be able to
accurately transfer critical information in an often condensed period of time in which a patient’s
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very life may hang in the balance (ANA, 2010, p. 54). The methods we must employ are widely
varied. Face to face, verbal, written and electronic are the main types we must master. Clear,
concise communication is vital during cath lab procedures as we work as a team including the
patient, staff members and the cardiologist(s). Caregivers who are handing off or receiving
should also be included here as those communications can make or break a patients perception or
out-come. Cath lab procedures are complex and fast paced. Often other physicians, students,
and staff are involved. Without good communication critical errors can easily be made.
Standard 12: Leadership
I feel I demonstrate leadership through solid teamwork daily. I hold myself and each of my
peers accountable for the quality of care each patient receives (ANA, 2010, p. 55). I am not
afraid to ask questions to make sure I clearly understand the direction or the need. Clear
communication and follow up are important elements of being a strong leader. It can be as
simple as asking the receiving nurse if they have any questions when completing hand off or
generating a report that accurately reflects the necessary information. Leadership means taking
pride in your work and profession. My membership in the ANA and the AACN demonstrate
professional leadership as well as giving nursing a political voice. I am also involved in
departmental, hospital wide and regional committees to improve care for our patients.
Standard 13 Collaboration:
My work in the cath lab requires strong collaborative skills daily. We work as a mixed
group of RN’s, CVT’s and RT’s with many years of experience among us. Our cardiologists
regularly ask our input regarding care decisions as well as equipment knowledge/choice. Our
patients come to us from a wide variety of settings and levels of stability. We receive patients
from EMT’s, RN’s, students, and other health care professionals involved in that person’s care.
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Seamless teamwork always results in the best outcomes (ANA, 2010, p. 57). Other departments
such as lab, respiratory, non-invasive cardiology, and thoracic surgery regularly become
involved in our patient’s procedures. Cooperation, respect, and strong teamwork are of vital
importance. We should always collaborate first with the patient and family, listening carefully to
their concerns and following through whenever possible. It is also important to keep the patient
and family updated and educated regarding their procedural status or disease processes as well as
risk factor modification.
Standard 14: Professional Practice Evaluation
It is important for all nurses to use self-evaluation on a regular basis (ANA, 2010, p. 59). I
often do this on a daily (even case to case) basis looking at what I performed well and what
could use some work. My peers (physician and fellow staff) are my best resources and help me
improve my practice. When the patient smiles up at you and says “thank-you” it confirms a job
well done. I love those! As part of my hospitals clinical ladder I am required to annually review
my professional participation and growth as well as keep a written portfolio. My manager also
provides us with annual discussions during which we review strengths, weaknesses and form a
plan for growth.
Standard 15: Resource Utilization
In this day of a constrained health care dollar we should all be good stewards of the
resources given us. We must be well versed in the available resources or know how to find out
about them. If I don’t know where, how, or who I am not afraid to ask for help. It is important
to know about our patient’s health history, whether they have prescription coverage and
upcoming urgent or elective procedures when planning cardiac care (ANA, 2010, p. 60). The
safest and most cost effective outcome should always be the bottom line. Resource can also
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mean using our computers to access and provide patient information via electronic records or
using online medical and drug references. All these avenues help lead to higher quality care for
each patient.
Standard 16: Environmental Health
Broad spectrum environmental health is somewhat questionable in a busy procedural unit
like mine. Infection control requires nearly all disposable supplies. I groan daily when I see the
amount of trash we generate. It would be great if we could make impervious also biodegradable!
It is fortunate that our environment can be further broken down to simple things like careful
technique with sharps and body fluids which is something within our control daily (ANA, 2010,
p. 61). We can also contribute to a healthy environment by communicating clearly in wellmodulated tones, making sure we have the right protective equipment available and promoting a
healthy work environment (American Association of Critical Care Nurses, 2011).
Goals
Five Year Goals
My primary five year goal is to successfully finish the Ferris State University RN to BSN
Completion program (Ferris State University, 2011) while still working full time and caring for
my family. In NURS 320 (Ferris State University, 2011) we laid out a completion plan including
timeline, elective choices and personal considerations. This was a very helpful as well as
revealing exercise. Completing this program can and will be done as I am a determined student,
the hardest part is usually just getting started and… I am now on my way! I wish to continue to
hold a leadership position at work by my example of ongoing education and participation in
skills workshops/hospital committees. Becoming more involved with patient and public
education through our STEMI committee is very appealing to me.
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Ten Year Goals
I would really like to work toward the development or attainment of a position as patient and
public education nurse for cardiac related problems. We have a very high volume of patients
through our lab and many of them seem to be missing vital pieces of information they should
have received before coming to us. It is difficult for staff nurses to take the time for thorough
education as many varied duties call. With reimbursements more routinely tied to outcomes and
good outcomes often depend on patient understanding I see a need for this type of nursing care.
Time will tell. First my degree and perhaps with continued vigilance an opportunity will arise.
The Plan
It feels very good to me to be concretely on my way toward my initial goal. I am in a
favorable position to do this as my children are now much less dependent on me, the offering of
flexible online delivery, and highly supportive friends and family will make this goal possible.
By the end of Fall 2013 I should have my BSN. I plan to continue to be part of my professional
associations and hospital committees as well as support/encourage others to continue their
education. Further education toward my MSN is not out of the question….one step at a time
however. I have received a lot of help from my peers and wish to pay that forward. As far as
my ten year goal I do not have a specific plan as yet. My avenues of choice will broaden with
my continued education and I wish to see where this road may take me.
Conclusion
Review and comparison of one’s current nursing practice to the best practice standards as set
forth by our professional organizations are a vital component in the delivery of high quality care
to each patient. These standards are set by the input and review of a host of nursing’s finest.
Review can be both revealing of deficiencies as well as rewarding of current quality practices.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (PDP)
In order to maintain the very best we must all under take conscious, honest, routine review and
improvement of our practice as professional nurses.
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References
ANA Nursing World. (2011). www.nursingworkd.org/codeofethics
American Association of Critical Care Nurses. (2011). http://www.aacn.org/
American Nurses Association. (2010). Standards of professional performance. In S. A. Jent, K.
Saxton, & E. Wurzbacher (Eds.), Nursing: Scope and standards of practice (2 ed, pp. 4762).Silver Spring, MD: Nursebooks.org
Ferris State University. (2011). http://ferris.edu/
Medscape Nurses Education. (2011). http://www.medscape.org/nurses