Anywhere in the world, nurses usually make up the largest percentage of health care professionals. Many of them work in hospital or institutional settings. The rest are based in nursing care facilities, doctor’s offices, clinics, home care settings, and schools, among others.

This wide array of settings make today’ nursing roles require various sophisticated interventions and evidence-based clinical skills. Such a variety of skills makes professional growth and development for nurses more important than ever.

So how can you update and improve your clinical nursing skills? Here are a number of ways you can do so.

Take part in continuing education programs

Various schools, colleges and online learning centers offer a number of continuing education courses and programs. Such programs can greatly assist in developing new skills and advancing your knowledge. Additionally, there are also courses that can help enhance existing nursing skills.

Continuing education courses include various nursing topics such as ambulatory care, critical care, pain management, neonatal nursing, maternal health and nutrition. Aside from improving your clinical skills, taking on such programs can also help you hone your skills in certain areas and thus make you qualified for specialized care.

Attend workshops and seminars

If continuing education programs may seem too long or tedious for you, or if you are considering quicker ways to improve your skills, workshops and seminars may be the answer. Such programs usually only last for a few days, and thus are ideal for busy professionals who may not have the time for longer continuing education programs.

These workshops and seminars are usually hosted by professional organizations, institutions, and industry experts. These programs usually consist of lectures combined with demonstrations and hands-on modules, helping you gain both knowledge and skills. Some offer enhancement of existing skills, while others seek to introduce you to new nursing concepts. Others also offer workshops leading to certificates that can lead to career advancements or specialization in certain fields.

Join Professional Nursing Organizations

Professional nursing organizations offer various benefits for nurses. These include providing education, professional development and growth, networking, and advocacy for the nursing profession.

Belonging to one or two organizations can help keep you professionally updated and informed of the latest news and developments in the nursing field. Additionally, nursing organizations provide a community where members can share and exchange information. Such organizations also regularly offer learning resources like conferences and webinars for its members.

If you’re a nurse who specializes in a certain field, you can also opt to join organizations that represent your specific practice.

Keep up-to-date with Technology

Technology has increasingly become a necessity in the health care field. From computer software to medical equipment, many technological advances are being put in place in offices, hospitals and institutions. Thus, brushing up on your computer skills, as well as knowing how to use certain equipment, are essential components of improving and enhancing clinical skills.

These suggestions can greatly help keep your clinical knowledge and skills updated, as well as keep you informed on the latest developments in your profession.