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As the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) deadline draws near, I experience that familiar tug at my conscience - it signals that it is that time of year to critically assess my progress and confirm that I have met the necessary professional standards.
This annual ritual has become more than just routine, it is an important opportunity for self-reflection.
Who wrote this Guide?
With over 14 years of nursing experience across neuroscience, perioperative, education, and leadership, I’m passionate about supporting early-career nurses to thrive in their transition. Writing for GradHub allows me to share practical insights, evidence-based strategies, and the lessons I wish I had known starting out. Let’s build a stronger, more supported nursing workforce - together.
Over the years, I have come to understand and appreciate that CPD is not just a date circled on the calendar, it has evolved into an essential part of my professional practice and everyday life.
As an early career nurse, CPD felt more like a chore or a “tick box” task. I would diligently document my hours, attend workshops and seminars, and upload certificates to demonstrate my compliance with professional standards, all without little to no reflection. It was driven by my motivation to fulfil requirements rather than a genuine desire to grow professionally.
However, that perspective began to shift dramatically after I returned from maternity leave. I found myself grappling with uncertainty in clinical decisions that once felt innate and automatic.
I hesitated when it came to inserting intravenous cannulas (IVCs), and on one occasion, I asked a trusted colleague to observe me setting up a nasogastric feed (NGT) infusion. I was consumed by self-doubt and worried I had lost the sharpness that once defined my professional practice and identity.
It wasn’t about a lack of knowledge or skill, I was well-versed in policies and procedures, and rather it was my confidence that had taken a beating.
In that moment of vulnerability, I turned to CPD, no longer a mere ‘tick box’ requirement but as a powerful tool for rejuvenation. I immersed myself deep into online modules, revisited topics that I had previously taken for granted, watched demonstrational videos late into the night, approached my senior colleagues for mentorship, and arranged debrief sessions after shifts to reflect on my own experiences as a clinician.
It was no longer just about accumulating hours, I was on a mission to reclaim my confidence.
CPD helps me stay sharp, intellectually curious, and connected to the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare.
These days, CPD shows up in various forms in my daily life:
With around 30 days remaining until the deadline, I am acutely aware that professional development is not a once-a-year event; it is a continuous journey that we live, breathe, and weave into our everyday routines.
It goes beyond the act of merely ticking a box; it shows our commitment to becoming better professionals, for our patients, our teams, and ourselves. At its core, excellent nursing is built on the foundations of lifelong learning.
CPD serves as one of the pathways that empower us to show up, not only as competent healthcare professionals but as individuals who genuinely care enough to grow and evolve.
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