Development of Personal and Professional Skills

The aim of this assignment is to explore the development of a set of personal and professional study skills and the effectiveness of these in the learning process.

Professional development is the progression and development of an individual’s skills in order to gain greater understanding and continuously enhance their skillset. (Mudd,2015)

Professional development is set out to help an individual develop and improve their chosen career pathway through continuously enhancing and improving skills they have acquired. In order to gain professional development, you must also have personal development. Personal development can be explained as time management or through motivation, as these skills are required both in and out of the workplace to aid improvement of potential talents as well as providing problem solving solutions in the development of skills.

Reflection can be explained as the process in which an activity or experience can be looked back on, which is done through the analysis of questions and therefore learning from the experience and using what is learnt to change a similar experience in the future (Priestly, 2015).

There are many reflective models used such as Freshwater, Rolfe and Jasper, another well-known framework for reflection may be Rolfe’s framework, which according to MSC Student (2016) is based on Borton’s development model, which initiates three questions, “What? So what? and Now what?”. These questions are repeated three times, but the level of these get deeper throughout the reflection. MSC Student (2016) criticises the level of complication for an individual who is using this framework to begin their reflective journey.

In order to achieve a precise goal, a document known as an action plan is required. The objective of this is to formulate a timeline which helps plan for specific tasks or goals that need to be accomplished as well as what resources are required (Rouse,2019).

The aim of the action plan is to break down the process into more manageable steps, an example of this is shown ithrough SMART goals. SMART goals help make specific, measurable and attainable steps in order to successfully complete the task within a realistic timeframe (Florence NG, 2014).

Study skills are transferable skills that enable efficiency in both professional and personal development. They are skills that support tasks which are carried out personally or within a work or learning environment. Jill Seibert professor of psychology at the University of South Carolina states that ‘Study Skills are fundamental to academic competence” (Cannata and Cassa, 2018).

Although study skills are inflexible, they may be used in a way which is interchangeable and unique to fit the needs of the individuals requiring them. Therefore, assisting the individual in discovering what supports them positively or likewise negatively (Payne and Whittaker, 2006).

Study skills are important to health care professionals as they provide life-long skills that are vital in the progression of personal and professional development. Independent and lifelong learning can be obtained through study skills which are required in the progression of career pathways. These skills are essential in assisting with tasks within an individual’s personal life, as well as their professional life (Payne and Whittaker, 2006).

Furthermore, study skills provide individuals with the basic tools which assist and enable application to a task, with the aim of enhancing practice and confidence in new situations. (Boulay, 2009)

Lastly, study skills are set out to provide assistance and guidance to an individual’s learning, but it is the individuals responsibility to seek out which learning style that is most effective for them.

The development of lifelong learning enables transferable skills, these skills enable the learner to improve confidence as well as self-esteem whilst acquiring a more positive environment in which they learn in, consequently resulting in the quality of their work being much greater than it was before utilising these study skills.

Furthermore (student Wellness Centre, 2017) state that the use of effective study skills can reduce the number of hours a student spends studying, therefore more time can be used for personal aspects in life, therefore reduce stress caused by exams and deadlines.

To conclude, the development of effective study skills can furthermore increase not just the work established at university but continues throughout one’s life.

Bandaranayake (2018) comments that in order for healthcare professionals to further study skills, adoption of a greater approach to learning must be developed in the style of self-directed study, Bandaranayake (2018) also states that this will encourage an effective career journey for the healthcare professional through both further knowledge and skills.

Furthermore, Kloosterman (2014) suggests that healthcare professionals who embraced professional development had the ability to firstly improve their knowledge in their chosen healthcare field, but most importantly improve the confidence in which the health service user has towards the professional, therefore increased job satisfaction leading to a better relationship with both patients and colleagues.

In order for healthcare professionals to provide quality care, they must pose the important skills as seen in the NMC (2018) which can be seen in the 6C’s of nursing, these provide the perfect approach to patient centred care.

According to the NMC (2018), reflection is crucial to allow healthcare professionals to reflect upon their practice which enables them to identify training requirements as well as positive practice.

To be a healthcare professional in line with NMC (2018), it is required that the maintaining and development of both skills and knowledge is upheld for not just themselves, but to support and assist colleagues in order for professional competence to be sustained.

Continuous mandatory training is put in place to enable healthcare professionals to develop both personal and professional development (RCN, 2019).

As well as professional development in mandatory training, revalidation is also a key part to development for healthcare professionals.

Falconer (2012) states that demonstration of up to date practice will enable the reassurance of both patients and colleagues that the healthcare professional is fit to work and compliance with the professional standards have been recognised, he goes on to say that safety is paramount and early identification of poor practice can be quickly resolved.

Quinn, 1988/2000 states that a disadvantage to reflection is that the healthcare professional may strive for constant self-improvement which results in pressure, therefore causing in dissatisfaction.

Watkins (2018) argues that not having reflective practice will make learning harder, this consequently impacts on both self-growth and job satisfaction, Watkins (2018) states that a good practitioner is the result of reflective practice.

Within my practice, it has become apparent that study skills are important for the healthcare sector and I have found that having such skills has enabled me to reflect on my practice both in and out of academic learning, which helps me gain confidence as well as knowledge on what I am succeeding in, and where I may need to improve.

This promotes a greater working relationship within my working and academic environment.

Motivation is said to be the process in which goal-orientated behaviours are established through initiating, guiding and maintaining, Cherry (2018) also states that motivation can be described as the drive or reason in which why somebody does something.

Cerdan (2017) states there are two types of motivation, these are in fact opposites of the same idea, and are identified as intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. 

Intrinsic motivation is referred to as wanting to achieve a specific goal because of the importance to the individual, it is also said that the enjoyment and satisfaction received is enough to motivate them.

Extrinsic motivation introduces external factors such as rewards (Cerdon, 2017).

Cherry (2017) argues that extrinsic motivation can have advantages and disadvantages as seen in the Lepper, Greene & Nisbett experiment, which shows how the over justification effect Boyd (2017) comes about from over rewarding.

Motivation plays a crucial part in order to promote personal and professional development. Tanner (2017) states that increased self-worth through motivation can make a difference to how motivated a person is in the workplace, therefore delivering a higher standard of work. When an individual knows they are of importance, it increases both personal and professional development, offering greater job satisfaction. Empowering staff to be more involved with decision making helps gain confidence both personally and professionally which also provides job satisfaction (Heathfield, 2015).

Tanner (2017) also argues against motivation, stating that too much motivation can increase one’s levels of self-worth, making experiences hard to learn from, especially failures.

Within a healthcare setting it is important that staff are motivated as a lack of motivation can produce a negative effect on both standards and the delivery of care (Jooste, 2016).

Motivation requires the need and want for goals as well as effort (Hurst, 2017).

Personal and professional development NMC (2018) comes from the motivation to learn crucial study skills, Cottrell (2013) to which I have attained during my current academic studies.

Creating a study routine has helped me study effectively, by breaking down the work required into smaller and more manageable chunks Wong (2018), I have been able to prioritise my work load successfully. Because I have possessed motivational skills through personal and professional development, I have been able to eliminate the stress factor that can be associated with motivation (Wood, 2011).

Furthermore, I have found that keeping motivated both mentally and physically has enhanced my studies both in and out of work, Genovese (2011) states that creativity is enhanced through physical activity, resulting in an increase in motivation as well as keeping the brain active.

My awareness to poor motivation has increased as a result of previous study, finding an effective way in which I am able to manage my workload has had a positive impact on my current and future studies which I will be able to take forward in my chose career.

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