This is what I know about patients: They don’t care if you’ve been a nurse for 1 month, 1 year, 10 years, or 100. They don’t care if you have a diploma, an associate’s degree, a bachelor, masters, or even a doctoral degree.
Patients expect all of their nurses to be competent!
You and I both know that you cannot maintain your competence just by graduating from nursing school or during your “Monday thru Friday” or three 12-hour shifts job.
Nurses have an ethical responsibility to patients to maintain their competence independent of whether or not they get paid to learn or if it’s a requirement for their job/license. And it’s not just clinical competence. Professional competence is equally important. Studies show that when nurses misbehave, aren’t skilled communicators, and don’t engage in collegial relationships, patients suffer just as much as if they were given the wrong medications!
Therefore, as nurses, we MUST maintain our clinical AND professional competence so that we can provide the high quality, safe and effective care that our patients deserve – that your mother, father, spouse, or child deserves.
How do We Maintain Competence?
By committing to continuous learning INDEPENDENT of what your boss or your organization requires. This is why I started hosting nursing symposiums a few years ago; to provide nurses with the clinical AND professional skills needed to succeed in today’s crazy healthcare world.
“I always feel refreshed and energized after a RTConnections’ event! I leave with a better understanding on topics and eager to learn more!” ~Jeanavieve Pyle
In one my keynote presentations, I talk about “climbing the ladder of knowledge”. I teach nurses how to commit to continuous learning even if they don’t have a ton of time or money.
One of my strategies to climb the ladder is to “learn together.” When at least 3 nurses from the same unit attend an in-service, conference, or symposium together, they have a greater chance of incorporating what they learned into their workplace. You need at least 3 people to create synergy. That’s why I always encourage nurses to attend in groups of at least 3!
“This symposium was truly enriching, fun, and presented new and current information of topics essential to the practice of the med surg nurse.” ~ Laurie Walter
My next symposium is scheduled on February 16th and 17th, 2017 in beautiful, sunny San Diego.
Here is a sampling of just a few topics I’ve included in this year’s symposium:
Clinical Topics:
- Sepsis
- Hemodynamics
- Acute Kidney Injury
- Legal & Illegal Opioid Use
- Cardiac Rhythm Interpretation (clinical breakout)
Professional Topics:
- Business Strategies for the Bedside and Beyond
- Nurse Bullying & Incivility
- Nurse Fatigue & Burnout
- Growing Your Career Through LinkedIn (professional breakout)
“This is my first time attending Renee’s conferences, I learned a lot on pathophysiology and communication techniques, I will return. Everything was great! The speakers were knowledgeable and entertaining!!” ~ Joan Gaston, MSN, RN
I’ve lined up a few amazing speakers who will teach you the skills you need to develop your clinical and professional competence. Also, we provide contact hours, breakfast and lunch, activities, and a boatload of fun!
Remember, as nurses, we have an ethical responsibility to our public to maintain our clinical AND professional competence.
And who is our public? Look in the mirror. WE are the public – our family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues.
Join me and your colleagues in San Diego!
Thanks so much for reading. Take care and stay connected.
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