As nurses, we hold the key to our own professional development. For some of us, our institutions help us to maintain our continuing education, but ultimately, we need to be our own advocates and ensure that we pursue lifelong learning to advance our profession and to ensure evidence-based patient care and improve outcomes.

What is lifelong learning?

In 2014, Davis et al published a Delphi study to identify what the concept of lifelong learning means in the nursing profession. The resulting definition was the following:

"Lifelong learning in nursing is defined as a dynamic process, which encompasses both personal and professional life. This learning process is also both formal and informal. Lifelong learning involves seeking and appreciating new worlds or ideas in order to gain a new perspective as well as questioning one's environment, knowledge, skills and interactions."

Lifelong learning includes educating yourself on a new medication or piece of equipment or researching a disease process when encountering it for the first time. It can include a change of specialty or patient population to broaden your knowledge base and areas of expertise. Perhaps you have, or are considering, becoming certified in a specialty or returning to school to achieve an advanced degree. Whatever the case, the common theme is that as nurses, we can never stop learning and growing. Health care is constantly changing, and we need to stay aware and educated to meet demands and provide the best care to patients.

There will always be a need for us to learn – from the day we graduate from nursing school to the day we retire. In a 2016 Editorial in the Journal of Christian Nursing, Maureen Kroning, EdD, RN, shares the following insights about nursing students:

"They will learn that two people with the same diagnosis will not respond the same way. They’ll discover the importance of working on an interdisciplinary team and gleaning knowledge from each team member, and the importance of teamwork and respect for others’ opinions, including patients, coworkers, and all members of the healthcare team. It will be important to learn the mission and vision of the institution where they work, and about the community served."

This message is an important one for us to remember throughout our nursing careers. We learn something new each day – as long as we are open to it. As a profession, our commitment to lifelong learning demonstrates to our colleagues and the public that we are dedicated to improving health.

At Wolters Kluwer, we’re celebrating nurses in recognition of all that they do every day. Learn more and watch “Care without Judgement: The HeART of Nursing.”

MEGGIN TALLMAN, RN, BSN, Pediatric ICU - Children’s of Alabama and Mercy Ships volunteer, Birmingham, AL
Meggin Tallman is a pediatric intensive care nurse at Children’s of Alabama, and for the last six years, has served with numerous non-governmental organizations in various African countries as a pediatric ICU nurse, providing medical care to patients with critical needs. Tallman also serves as president and founder of Global Health Collaboration, a resource for professionals seeking to use their skills to aid underserved areas throughout the world and is currently earning her Family Nurse Practitioner degree from the University of North Alabama. 

Watch our Facebook Live with Meggin from November 6, 2019. 

References:
Davis, L., Taylor, H., & Reyes, H. (2014). Lifelong learning in nursing: A Delphi study. Nursing Education Today, 34(3). doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2013.04.014
 
Kroning, M. (2016). Called to teach: Lifelong learning in nursing. Journal of Christian Nursing, 33(1).
 

More Resources
Blog	Blog	Blog
Being a Lifelong Learner in Nursing	Lifelong Learning to Advance Nursing Care	#HeART of Nursing – Navigating a Changing Profession