Continuing Professional Development (CPD) ensures the level of professionalism and knowledge of registered and enrolled nurses is improved and enhanced on an on-going basis enabling the provision of quality care. Since 2004 Altura Learning has provided programs designed to increase and update the knowledge and skills of nurses and other care staff, and ultimately the lives of older people.
Do I need to complete CPD?
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) undertakes functions as set by the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, as in force in each state and territory (the National Law). The NMBA sets out the minimum requirements for registration that includes the mandatory requirement for nurses and midwives to complete a minimum of 20 hours of CPD annually (or a pro-rata amount if registration has been held for less than a year) as a mandatory requirement to maintain ‘practising’ registration. CPD must be directly relevant to a nurse or midwife’s context of practice. The NMBA monitors the fulfilment of this requirement by conducting an annual audit of a number of nurses and midwives registered in Australia.
How many CPD hours is each program worth?
Essentially, each hour you spend completing one of our courses is equal to 1 hour of CPD. Every course you purchase from Altura Learning can earn you up to 8 CPD hours depending on the amount of assessment you choose to complete.
How can I prove I’ve completed CPD activities?
Nurses and midwives must keep written documentation of CPD that demonstrates evidence of completion of a minimum of 20 hours of CPD per year. You will receive a certificate which is autogenerated when you complete this course. If you choose to complete the extension exercise, you can keep the completed exercise as evidence and also record the activity in our CPD Portfolio.
How can I maximise the CPD I complete?
You will get the most out of your CPD experience when you:
- Identify the knowledge and skills needed for professional competence
- Are present and fully engaged at CPD activities
- Develop an individual training plan based on learning needs identified
- Apply what has been learnt to your professional practice
- Participate fully in discussions
- Talk to your peers and maximise networking opportunities
How can I apply my learning?
To ensure learning is applied to your professional practice, consider the following questions after every CPD activity:
- What did I learn?
- What will I stop doing?
- What will I continue doing?
- What will I start doing or start doing differently?
- How will I know when these changes have occurred?
- Have I identified further training needs?
In order to continually improve your practice as a enrolled or registered nurse, incorporate regular occasions for reflection and evaluation into your CPD plan. This will give you opportunities to consolidate learning, cement new behaviours, review practices and identify further training needs.
Reference: http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Registration-Standards.aspx