Nicole Cory

Professional Development Plans

 Professional development plans assist
nurses in formulating long-term career
goals
 These plans help nurses to develop
professionally and to attain satisfaction
in their careers
 Professional development has been
linked to higher job satisfaction.
Purpose of Research
 Research on this topic will assess a link
between professional development
plans and the retention of hospital
nurses.
 The purpose of the research is to
demonstrate the benefits of professional
development plans for nursing
professionals.
Research Question
 Can the implementation of career
development plans improve retention
among hospital nurses?
Sample
 Nursing personnel of medical/surgical units of
three hospitals of average size.
 Nurses with either a Associate’s or Bachelor’s
degree in the Science of Nursing.
 Nurses who at the beginning or middle of their
careers (between 1-10 years in the field).
 Can include nurses who already plan to stay in
their current positions, or nurses who already
plan to leave the field.
 Does not contain nurses nearing retirement.
Research Methods
 Obtain baseline data from nurses within the sample.

 Obtain baseline data from a control group of nurses who

will not participate in the professional development plan.

 Implement a professional development plan for nurses

that includes an eight hour seminar, personal career
counseling, and career development tools

 Obtain data regarding salary, length of employment,

career level (Entry/Management/administrator etc.)

 Continue to monitor this data indefinitely.

References
Donley, R., Flaherty, M.J., (Sept. 30, 2008) "Promoting Professional
Development: Three Phases of Articulation in Nursing Education and
Practice" OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing; Vol 13 No 3
Manuscript 2. Available:
www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodic
als/OJIN/TableofContents/vol132008/No3Sept08/PhasesofArticulation.aspx
Jones, C., Gates, M., (September 30, 2007) The Costs and Benefits of Nurse
Turnover: A Business Case for Nurse Retention. OJIN: The Online Journal
of Issues in Nursing. Vol. 12 No. 3, Manuscript 4. Available:
www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodic
als/OJIN/TableofContents/Volume122007/No3Sept07/NurseRetention.aspx
Raines. C.F., Taglaireni, M.E., (Sept. 30, 2008) "Career Pathways in Nursing:
Entry Points and Academic Progression" OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues
in Nursing; Vol 13 No 3 Manuscript 1. Available:
www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodic
als/OJIN/TableofContents/vol132008/No3Sept08/CareerEntryPoints.aspx
Limitations
Possible limitations of the research
include:

 Small sample
 Ages of nurses in the program
 Stages of nursing careers will still vary
 Limited to only one group of nurses
(Med/Surg nurses).
Implications for Research
 The nursing shortage is of national
concern, and too few nurses has been
linked to diminishing quality of care in
several settings (Raines and Taglaireni,
2008).
 Nurses are leaving the field citing many
different reasons such as job
dissatisfaction (Donley and Flaherty,
2008).
 Nurses in management positions have
reported higher levels of job satisfaction
(Jones and Gates, 2007)