Exploring staff nurses' views on professional development.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to explore senior staff nurses' experiences of continuing professional development.


METHODS
A hermeneutic phenomenological methodology was used with a purposive sample of five participants.


RESULTS
Four key themes were identified: the experience is about being opportunistic; the experience is about keeping up to date with ongoing advances in nursing practice; the experience is about experiential learning and meeting the demands of the informant's current role.


CONCLUSIONS
CPD enabled the nurses who took part in this study to keep up to date with nursing practice. It also illustrates that engaging with this system of skills enhancement helps to reduce work-related stress among nurses, thereby providing further opportunities to enhance confidence and competence as well as developing a workforce that is 'fit for practice' and 'fit for purpose'.
Wood
Janet
J
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D009042:Motivation; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D010934:Planning Techniques; D011340:Problem Solving; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000458:organization & administration; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards; D016730:Program Development; D036301:Qualitative Research; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013192:Staff Development / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration