New Year, New Beginnings

New Year, New Beginnings: Why professional development matters now more than ever –
a call to action for all clinicians!
By: Terri Schmitt PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP
Executive Director, NPACE

As 2025 begins, I am searching for paths to impact healthcare change. One of the simplest ways to impact practice outcomes is through high-level learning and continuing to practice in high-need areas.

Healthcare is currently struggling with professional development and continuing education for clinicians—the shift of clinical professional development due to multiple small fractures in the system. Companies with financial stakes in products, PDF continuing education credits, cuts in organizational CE/CME budgets, expansion of online education as a singular method for training new clinicians, the pandemic, continuously strained healthcare systems without enough clinicians, and changing of the tax code to remove professional deductions all contributed, forcing clinicians to seek free or PDF options.

In a world where technology and science grow quickly and turnover or exit of clinicians seems to be a permanent fixture – Clinicians can set high standards for professional development. Clinical professional development impacts practice quality, impacting professional risk and patient outcomes.

As clinicians, we must take it upon ourselves to seek out impactful professional development and continuing education. Professional development among clinicians does impact patient outcomes^1-3, but choices in professional development are empowered by leadership and positive workplace culture⁴. Leaders, are you supporting meaningful professional development and continuing education?

We work hard at NPACE to provide unique, impactful, and cutting-edge education beyond ‘rinse and repeat’ production, helping clinicians gain new and needed knowledge. Each live event, both virtual and in-person, holds unique and meaningful continuing education with current evidence and direct learning and resources that will impact clinician practice. We are working to combat the changes in professional development and continuing education with relevant, engaging, and needed APP continuing education.

For example, consider how many patients in your panel have a current or past cancer diagnosis. How do you handle screening for other cancers? How do you interpret and share abnormal lab results in your patients who are being co-managed by oncology? What oncology medications might affect the treatment of other chronic health issues? NPACE found many APPs struggle with these in our March Virtual Conference accessible from anywhere.

Many clinicians need pharmacology updates, arthritis treatment updates, infectious disease updates, new diabetes guidelines, and obesity management. NPACE is presenting all of these topics at the Chicago Pharmacology Conference while adding community, fun, and joy in a free Roaring 20’s social hour kick-off event the evening before the conference.

One of the best ways to improve practice and provide connection and hope in healthcare is through seeking out excellent professional development. NPACE believes in the power of continuing education and community. Join us at an event to find out!