Maximizing your professional development in quality
June 27, 2024Share:
As we approach mid-year, I’m sure many of us are looking to the second half of 2024 to plan for all that is still possible to accomplish. I thought this would be a great time to encourage everyone to do a mid-year check on how you are investing in yourself and your professional goals – and whether you are maximizing professional development dollars your employer may offer.
According to NAHQ research, when it comes to professional development, the majority of healthcare organizations cover a portion of expenses for their employees. But, are employees utilizing those dollars each year? Do they even know they have access to this professional development?
- 74 percent of individuals surveyed by NAHQ, which included physicians, nurses, directors, and managers, said they believe employers pay for some or all of their professional development, which could include membership dues, fees, trainings, certification exams and prep courses.
- Meanwhile, 92 percent of C-suite and VP-level leadership within healthcare organizations said they pay for all or some of their employees’ professional development expenses.
That tells us there may be a lack of awareness of resources available to healthcare professionals. I encourage you to look at your organization’s professional development policy or check with your human resources manager to ensure you maximize all of the resources that are available to you. Further, I urge leaders to examine the investment their organizations are making in their employees’ professional development.
Research shows that organizations who invest in their employees’ career development see better engagement and retention. According to a LinkedIn Employees Workforce Learning Report, 94 percent of employees said they would stay at a company longer if it invested in their learning and careers.
If you want another great reason to pursue professional development opportunities, you’ll find it in the NAHQ Healthcare Quality Competency Framework™, where one of the eight domains is Professional Engagement. This domain outlines the importance of engaging in the healthcare quality profession with a commitment to practicing ethically, enhancing one’s competence, and advancing the field. The Professional Engagement domain includes three competencies that can all be enhanced through professional development:
- Integrate ethical standards into practice. It is important to understand your profession’s standards of practice and incorporate these into your own practice. A commitment to lifelong learning ensures you stay abreast of relevant topics and how they impact ethical standards. A very recent example is that as the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare increases, you will need to make sure the ways AI is used adhere to ethical practices and standards.
- Engage in lifelong learning as a healthcare quality professional. One of the most impactful ways you can achieve this is to become a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality® (CPHQ). Our research shows CPHQs work at higher levels of competency compared to non-CPHQs and are more likely to hold higher job titles, including director, executive director and vice president. The CPHQ also encourages lifelong learning through the attainment of Continuing Education Units (CEU) required for recertification every two years. This ensures you are always keeping up with the current standards and activities for the profession.
- Participate in activities that advance the profession. NAHQ membership offers you the professional development resources you need to advance your knowledge and skills, including complimentary access to all NAHQ Learning Labs. You can also share your work and learnings with other professionals through a poster, abstract, journal, webinar, or presentation. As a member, you’ll also find opportunities to support the quality mission through volunteering and industry events that will help you continue to grow.
Education is a journey, not a destination. As an enthusiastic lifelong learner – and as I celebrate my 15-year anniversary of earning the CPHQ – I am thankful for NAHQ’s professional development opportunities that have been so meaningful to my career.
Professional development starts with you. Investing in yourself and in your teams is how we can all advance our profession, deliver the highest quality and provide the safest care possible.
Patricia (Patty) Resnik, MJ, MBA, RRT, FACHE, CPHQ, CHC, CHPC
NAHQ President
There is a roadmap to healthcare Quality excellence. NAHQ can help you follow it.
The NAHQ Healthcare Quality Competency Framework™ serves as the industry-standard, defining the Quality Safety competencies, skills and behaviors required to advance Quality & Safety excellence across the healthcare continuum.
This expert-created, data-informed framework is continuously validated and updated by NAHQ to ensure it provides the most up-to-date information, guiding professionals, organizations, and the healthcare industry to create a competent, coordinated workforce prepared to deliver healthcare excellence.
