In order for nurses to remain current on best practices and research, it is important to seek out continuing educational opportunities. Education does not end with certification, and instead is a career-long endeavor. There are numerous ways nurses can stay current on literature, practice and policies, including subscriptions to current research via nursing journals; e-learning opportunities that exist to provide nurses with researchable data, as well as articles and discussion forums that help inform nurses on current trends in nursing and healthcare; and workshops provided by organizations such as the American Heart Association, which offer courses for continuing nurses to further their education and keep them informed on emerging technologies and developing medical knowledge (Lahti et al., 2014).
Nursing and other medical journals can provide nurses with a range of knowledge on current trends and practices and healthcare; these journals are often accessed via a subscription, and vary according to specialization; thus, nurses in pediatric care can subscribe to pediatric journals, nurses involved with mental health counseling can subscribe to journals relating to that field. Because the body of knowledge is continually growing, it is important for nurses to remain up to date on current trends, issues and practices related to their field. E-learning opportunities vary, and can include virtual based workshops, online forums where nurses can communicate with others in their field, and access to various articles and research studies. In-person workshops, such as those offered by various health organizations, can help benefit nurses by offering demonstrations, guest speakers, and other activities that would not be able to be done online. Nurses should therefore continually seek educational opportunities beyond the knowledge they received during the completion of their degree, because the body of knowledge is continually growing. New research leads to better practice, so the more knowledgable a nurse on current trends in healthcare, the better the outcomes will be.
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- Lahti, M., Hätönen, H., & Välimäki, M. (2014). Impact of e-learning on nurses’ and student nurses knowledge, skills, and satisfaction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International journal of nursing studies, 51(1), 136-149.
