Study: Centralizing nursing professional development improves care

Centralizing a nursing professional development department at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands (Texas) Medical Center resulted in high satisfaction, cost savings and enhanced quality outcomes, according to an article published in the Journal of Nursing Administration’s March issue. In 2023, all unit-based nursing professional development practitioners began reporting to the professional development director and ultimately the system’s associate vice president of clinical education. Memorial Hermann developed a comprehensive transition plan. Over one year, nursing professional development practitioners showed a high satisfaction level with their role, and none left in more than 20 months. The hospital climbed from the 17th percentile to the 4th percentile in Vizient rankings among comparable hospitals. The one-year retention rate of newly licensed nurses rose 5% to 93.6%.