title: Measuring Return on Investment for Professional Development Activities: A Review of the Evidence.
abstract: In the current complex healthcare environment in which organizations are dealing with reimbursement challenges, nursing professional development practitioners must increasingly demonstrate that the time and resources dedicated to educational activities are worth the impact they have on outcomes. Measuring return on investment guides decisions on resources (people, supplies, time) used for professional development activities by showing the financial impact of such activities. The purpose of this project was to review the literature on return on investment for professional development activities to best guide decision-making for limited resources. This is Part I of two articles, the first of which provides a review of the literature. The second article provides guidance for conducting financial analyses of nursing professional development activities.
authors.affiliation: Cathleen Opperman, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CPN, is Professional Development Nurse Specialist, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio. Debra Liebig, MLA, BSN, RN-BC, is Director of Nursing Retention, Truman Medical Center, Kansas City, Missouri. Judith Bowling, MSN, MHA, RN-BC, is Clinical Learning Educator, Baptist Health South Florida, Miami. Carol Susan Johnson, PhD, RN, NE-BC, is an ANCC Magnet® and Continuing Nursing Education Appraiser, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Mary Harper, PhD, RN-BC, is Director, Nursing Professional Development for the Association for Nursing Professional Development, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Cathleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Opperman
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liebig
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bowling
authors.forename: Carol Susan
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harper
mesh_terms: D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000191:economics*; D007449:Investments; D009729:Nursing; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011361:Professional Competence