Articles-Thought Leadership Lifelong Learning: The Key to Remaining Relevant | Page 2

Lifelong learning is not an option in healthcare, it’s required by
healthcare workers to remain relevant and continue providing
safe, effective patient care. The lifelong learning movement in
healthcare provides benefit and welfare for everyone in society.
What is “Lifelong Learning” and what is driving this movement in healthcare?
Lifelong learning has been recognized and supported as one of the most significant competencies that people must
possess by education/academic organizations and groups, accreditation organizations, governments, employers, and
the public at large. Lifelong learning offers individuals the opportunity to keep their knowledge current, learn new
skills, and pursue a wide variety of interests through intellectual growth and expansion. Through this continuous
learning cycle, people can provide an expanded contribution to society and extend their options for career choice
and life enrichment. Healthcare is an ever-changing field of practice with advances in medicine, expanded evidence
sources, new treatment options, and changing governmental regulations and models of care. Lifelong learning is not
an option in healthcare, it’s required by healthcare workers to remain relevant and continue providing safe, effective
patient care. The lifelong learning movement in healthcare provides benefit and welfare for everyone in society.
Applying Lifelong Learning to three healthcare professionals
Diane was asked how lifelong learning might apply to three different healthcare professionals—a med-surg nurse with
five years of experience in the nursing profession, a CNO with 25 years of nursing experience and 10 of those years in
nurse management, and an Internal Medicine physician who has been practicing for 10 years. Here are her responses:
1 A Med-Surg Nurse with Five Years of Experience
A medical-surgical nurse would need to stay updated in a variety of diagnosis and procedure/treatment
categories. Using tools to stay updated on the most recent evidence is extremely important in addition to
participating in continuing education and tracking CEs for licensure requirements. Offering to provide clinical
leadership in precepting new nurses is another form of lifelong learning, as oftentimes there are new skills gained
by teaching others. Also, medical-surgical practice can frequently be a first position for a nurse. After five years, a
nurse may also want to consider learning another clinical area and/or obtain a specialty certification to augment
current knowledge.
2 A CNO with 25 Years of Nursing Experience
An experienced Chief Nursing Officer has many opportunities to participate in lifelong learning. Often, the skills
required to lead effectively need to be continually honed and expanded. New challenges affecting the clinical
workforce and healthcare in general require nursing leaders/managers to take leadership courses, become
certified in healthcare leadership through formal channels, attend conferences, and stay updated on changing
regulations and models of care delivery in order to stay challenged and effective in their roles.
3 An Internal Medicine Physician in Practice for 10 Years
Physicians have continual needs to stay updated in the most recent evidence, treatment options, pharmaceuticals,
and equipment in order to practice medicine and maintain credentialing and practice privileges. Physicians benefit
from lifelong learning activities such as attending conferences, staying active within their professional societies,
and using evidence-based tools to assist with day-to-day decision-making. Physicians working in academic settings
also have an opportunity to teach and participate in research to advance the lifelong learning of others. EMR
advancement and adoption in healthcare and digital health has increased the need for physicians to learn a
variety of technology systems as lifelong learning opportunities.
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