title: Professional development needs of registered nurses practicing at a military community hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Focus groups were used to determine what factors need to be considered when designing a professional development program for RNs practicing at a military community hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six focus groups were formed with RNs from multiple directorates and settings within various specialties.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five thematic groupings were identified: 1) specific professional development needs for leadership, clinical/specialty practice, competence development, and maintenance, 2) methods for providing continuing education, 3) methods for evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of continuing education, 4) barriers to professional development, and 5) professional development issues impacting retention of military nurses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The professional development needs of RNs practicing in military hospitals are complex and multifaceted. The thematic groupings identified guided the design of a professional development program for RNs.
authors.affiliation: Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, California 92055, USA.
authors.forename: Sandra C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Bibb
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malebranche
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Crowell
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Altman
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lyon
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Jeanine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rybarczyk
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002140:California; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000592:standards*; D017144:Focus Groups; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006772:Hospitals, Military; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008888:Military Nursing / Q000193:education*; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D016730:Program Development; D013192:Staff Development / Q000592:standards*