The Importance of CPD
CPD is essential for Nurses especially when revalidating their registration. As nurses we should have:
35 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) relevant to your scope of practice in the three year period since your registration was last renewed, or you joined the register.
https://www.nmc.org.uk/revalidation/requirements/cpd/
CPD has multiple benefits for both the learner and employer. It provides learning and structure in the without disrupting operations or services, and it provides equal educational opportunities for all staff members.
CPD can also be an essential part of registration and membership in a regulatory body, as well and helping realise personal potential in a chosen profession.
You must maintain accurate records of CPD you have undertaken.
These records must contain:
- the CPD method
- a description of the topic and how it related to your practice
- the dates on which the activity was undertaken
- the number of hours (including the number of participatory hours)
- the identification of the part of the Code most relevant to the activity
- evidence that you undertook the CPD activity.
The main advantages of CPD are that it :
- Provides recognition and documentation of developmental achievements
- Details the progression path of professional training
- Delivers guidance and direction for the appropriate learning activities
- Identifies knowledge gaps and existing developmental needs
- Offers evidence and demonstrates capabilities to employers and clients
- Makes a real difference to career potential and employment paths
Understand the CPD Points System
What are CPD “points”, and how are they used?
They are a way to recognise and assign value to learning activities, regardless of their structure and format. They also help to measure developmental progression.
Most development plans will require the attendance of training courses and the completion of assignments or achievable goals. This needs to be recorded and filed in a way that is presentable to others and upholds the principles of CPS standards.
However, points are not just accrued by proving attendance at a seminar or completing a course assignment. Personal progression and work achievements must also be rated for value.
The accruement of CPD points is likely to depend on the profession or job that a learner has. Some regulatory bodies or organisations insist upon proof and documentation to show that a certain amount of CPD points have been accumulated.
For instance, nurses and nursing support staff need to attain at least 45 points of CPD in a calendar year.
A CPD “point” is a measurement of time, effort, and resources that a learner has expended during an educational activity.
Each one takes into consideration the following factors:
- Online and classroom courses that have been attended and completed
- Webinars, seminars, lectures, and presentations s that have been attended
- Maintenance of a personal portfolio that includes all educational details
Converting CPD Points into Hours
Typically, CPD “points” are represented as “hours”, especially by most regulatory boards. The conversion technique for this may differ slightly depending on the location and profession. In some professions, they may also be referred to as “units” or “credits”.
Whilst this might seem a little confusing or disconcerting when these different measurements are used, they all basically mean the same thing.
Put simply:
One CPD point corresponds to one hour spent on a CPD activity.
Using a typical course schedule as an example:
A training course on leadership management takes place over four days between 10 am to 3 pm. This means that 4 x 5 hours are spent studying, so 20 CPD hours were attained by a student’s attendance, meaning that they have accrued at least 20 CDP points during the activity.
Learners are not monitored online or have an equivalent of a pedometer strapped to their brain. Instead, they hold the responsibility and transparency for recording the points that are earned. As shown in the next section, points can also be influenced by the quality of learning.
Calculating CPD Points
CPD points are awarded once a course or learning program has been completed. The points can be proven by a document or certificate from the teaching organisation or associated awarding body. On other occasions, it will be appropriate or necessary for the learner to calculate the final accumulation of points by themselves.
Typically, CPD points/credits equal the number of active learning hours in a CPD activity. The CPD hours depend on the amount of time learners take to learn and understand the course materials and complete quizzes designed to assess their comprehension.