Nurse Professional Development & Pathways
The Education Pathway is for team members who desire to influence professional role competence and professional growth of learners in a variety of settings. The Education Pathway aligns with the IU Health nurse attribute embraces learning. This nurse will excel in pursuing lifelong learning for continued effective application by; expanding thinking, demonstrating adaptability, and setting developmental objectives to improve and enhance the care delivered to patients and also facilitate these characteristics in others. Career advancement opportunities related to this pathway include; clinical educator/professional development specialist, school of nursing clinical instructor, patient educator, and diabetes educator.
Obtain a specialty certification
If you are not certified in your specialty area, obtaining your specialty certification should be one of your first goals. Certification validates your knowledge, skills, and abilities in your clinical area of practice. Certification is recognition of your achievement, expertise, and clinical judgement. It is a mark of excellence and maintaining certification will require a commitment to lifelong learning and skill acquisition.
IU Health participates in the following programs which can help you achieve certification:
ANCC(American Nurses Credentialing Cerner) Success Pays program
ONCC(Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation) FreeTake
AACN(American Association of Critical-Care Nurses) Certification Value Program
Certification Quick Guide
Attend seminars, workshops, trainings, and/or certification review courses
Watch for communication from your professional development team/continuing education department. Connect with your professional organization and check out their website for education opportunities. You may also find opportunities on the professional organizations social media venues for education offerings.
Become a super-user
Become a super-user or department champion for Cerner, Safety, etc.
Connect with your leader to discuss opportunities in your department.
Support education development
Support education development for your department and facility. Have you identified an education need in your department? Would you enjoy developing competencies for your peers and non-licensed roles?
Share your ideas for education with your leader/educator so you can get more involved.
Assist with competencies
Assist with competency identification, development, implementation, and evaluation. Would like to take an active role in the competency development process? Reach out to your leader/educator to learn more about opportunities in your department.
Assist with skills validation
Assist with skills validation for team members (licensed and non-licensed).
Reach out to your leader and/or educator to find out how you can get involved in skills validation.
Attend a preceptor class
Discuss with your leader/educator your desire to precept and the education that is available.
Actively precept new team members
Are you passionate about working with new team members and watching them develop and grow?
Work with your leader and educator to identify opportunities for you to work with new team members.
Become a specialty course trainer
Did you really enjoy taking a specialty class(ACLS, CPR, and Cerner)?
Discuss your desire to facilitate classes and provide training with your leader.
Precept, coach and mentor
Precept, coach and mentor nursing students and patient care interns. Actively seek out opportunities to work with students/PCI’s.
Discuss opportunities with your leader and educator.
Job shadow a different role
Do you want to find out more about the case manager role? What about the role and responsibilities of a CNS?
Discuss opportunities with your leader and network in areas of interest for shadowing opportunities.
Facilitate spirit of inquiry in others
Explore and discuss with colleagues best practice guidelines, your professional organizations white papers, recommendations and scope and standards of practice.
Keep up to date by reading journal articles relevant to your practice and share ideas from the evidence.
When new procedures and equipment are being rolled out, take time to explore the evidence behind the change and help others to improve their understanding.