Professional development, competence and education

This chapter discusses ongoing or continuing professional development (CPD) for orthopaedic and trauma nurses. Nursing is a constantly changing profession and engaging in CPD is a compulsory part of being a professional. The chapter describes one competency framework along with specialist orthopaedic and trauma nurse education, mentorship in orthopaedic and trauma nursing practice, social media and the role of reflection in CPD. Musculoskeletal instability and movement can result in significant pain and discomfort. Orthopaedic and trauma practitioner competences highlight the specialist nature of orthopaedic and trauma practice, and provide clarity for organisations regarding what they can expect from orthopaedic and trauma practitioners. One of the central aspects of orthopaedic and trauma practice is the fact that orthopaedic and trauma surgery and injuries may carry with them a high risk of complications. Registered nurses have a code of conduct and statutory requirements for maintaining registration that necessitate CPD.