Introduction
Opportunities for nursing professional development are prospects that are directly dependent on the effectiveness and quality of the relevant educational profile. By training the necessary skills and expanding their knowledge base, nurses increase their range of competencies, thereby realizing themselves in a professional environment. Continuing education is essential to sustainable growth in the profession and reflects productivity and dedication to nursing. In addition, along with narrow-profile skills, the ethical principles of interaction are trained and accumulated. The desire to constantly expand relevant attainments and gain valuable work experience is a significant factor in the nursing profession, which is largely achieved through educational initiatives.
Options in the Job Market
At the moment, options in the job market are not limited by narrow frameworks. The nursing graduate status allows for applying for employment in various healthcare institutions. Certainly, according to Püschel et al. (2017), the relevant knowledge base and experience accumulated by graduation are essential markers of professionalism. However, while taking into account modern educational opportunities, the current degree of education does not have to be final. Since many employers encourage the further education of subordinates, obtaining subsequent academic degrees opens up good professional prospects. Therefore, by adhering to the idea of continuous learning, achieving high results in the job market is a real and favorable option.
The Future of Nursing 2020-2030
The pursuit of educational goals implies observing appropriate standards defined in accordance with the professional requirements for the nursing profession. Based on the report by Wakefield et al. (2021), the abilities to collect evidence, engage colleagues, conduct research activities, and perform other functions are indispensable for honing professional skills. As a result, by pursuing these educational objectives and focusing on specific attainments to acquire and reinforce, nurses are able to continuously expand their competencies. One of the common ways to gain the necessary knowledge is to move through the academic stages and receive official certificates confirming the corresponding levels of professional training.
Acquiring a Bachelor’s in Nursing (BSN) status is not the ultimate educational goal. In the future, obtaining a Master’s in Nursing (MSN) degree is a prospect to realize. This degree is a strong confirmation of the efforts made for professional development. After two years of theoretical training and the required certification, an MSN degree can be earned (McCauley et al., 2020). Nevertheless, even this stage of academic preparation is not the ultimate pursuit. The end goal is the Doctor of Nursing Practice, or DNP degree. Although this title requires completing at least two years of additional training and confirmation of qualification, the DNP degree is an authoritative recognition of the highest nursing training (McCauley et al., 2020). Thus, having a clear plan of action and pursuing specific educational perspectives, gradual academic growth is a real opportunity to realize in the near future.
Relationship Between the Level of Education and Competitiveness in the Job Market
Increasing competition in the job market, namely gaining an advantage over other applicants, is directly related to the educational level. In their selection of candidates for appropriate nursing positions, employers primarily pay attention to the level of academic preparation. According to Krasna et al. (2021), recruitment challenges are more difficult for those nurses who are inferior to their peers in terms of educational attainment, which is natural given the demand for skilled labor. As a result, the expansion of academic achievements through obtaining new certificates and degrees is directly associated with better positions in the job market. The nursing sector is constantly being strengthened, which is natural in the conditions of progress and the emergence of new professional development opportunities. This means that to win the employer’s trust and meet the high rank of a professional specialist, continuing education and advanced academic degrees are prerequisites for enhancing the personal role in the future of nursing.
Continuing Nursing Education and the Code of Ethics
The constant honing of skills, achieved through continuing learning, is a prerequisite to acquiring the required competencies, attitudes, and ethical principles of the nursing profession. The American Nurse Association provides relevant guidelines and recommendations that are crucial to follow in professional practice (“What are the ANA Standards of Practice,” 2022). Specific practical requirements are numerous and define the nature of the work in relation to various practical aspects, such as planning, assessment, diagnosis, and other activities (“What are the ANA Standards of Practice,” 2022). Continuing education involves the constant strengthening of competencies and skills, and the more extensive the knowledge base is, the higher the likelihood of correctly following all ANA standards. Ethical nuances that inevitably arise in the course of work are essential to address competently. Nurses with rich academic backgrounds can use their knowledge to find optimal solutions to overcome specific barriers and difficulties. As a result, continuing education is a prerequisite for compliance with all the rules of nursing work and a tool to overcome emerging challenges associated with the communication or practical tasks.
Mandatory Continuing Education
Continuing nursing education is a ubiquitous practice utilized in various healthcare settings and is often promoted as a mandatory aspect of professional development. This approach is relevant in the context of modern requirements for the quality of nursing work and justified for several reasons. Firstly, as Cruz et al. (2017) argue, lifelong learning should be mandatory because this activity involves learning and honing not only unique practical skills but also cultural competencies. While working in a multicultural environment, nurses should adhere to a patient-oriented approach and improve their communication skills to effectively address the medical needs of the population. Secondly, continuous learning is a practice that contributes to accumulating valuable experience. In the future, its application can help solve work problems and overcome difficulties successfully, which, in turn, can be realized through highly qualified training. According to the survey presented by Püschel et al. (2017), 76% of respondents selected from professional nurses confirm the effectiveness of continuing education and the importance of this process (p. 1223). Therefore, mandatory continuing education is due to a number of factors, including comprehensive training and the acquisition of crucial problem-solving and decision-making skills.
Conclusion
The educational perspectives offered to nurses provide valuable experience and skills required to interact with patients competently. The formation of the necessary attainments and attitudes is largely achieved through the involvement of medical staff in various educational programs. Qualified training is the key to competitiveness in the job market and can help with career aspirations. Continuing learning, in turn, is a natural practice promoted in today’s healthcare and allows for honing ethical communication principles, professional approaches to care, and other competencies. Making this practice mandatory means providing nurses with an opportunity to gain sufficient theoretical and practical background to successfully apply problem-solving and decision-making skills.
References
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Krasna, H., Czabanowska, K., Beck, A., Cushman, L. F., & Leider, J. P. (2021). Labour market competition for public health graduates in the United States: A comparison of workforce taxonomies with job postings before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 36(S1), 151-167. Web.
McCauley, L. A., Broome, M. E., Frazier, L., Hayes, R., Kurth, A., Musil, C. M., Norman, L. D., Rideout, K. H., & Villarruel, A. M. (2020). Doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree in the United States: Reflecting, readjusting, and getting back on track. Nursing Outlook, 68(4), 494-503. Web.
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Wakefield, M., Williams, D. R., Le Menestrel, S., & Flaubert, J. L. (Eds.) (2021). The future of nursing 2020-2030: Charting a path to achieve health equity. National Academy of Sciences.
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