Maintaining Professional Competence

Abstract

Maintaining (and developing) knowledge and skills is a hallmark of professional practice and is often linked to the periodic renewal of registration. In this chapter we examine the following six strategies supporting the preservation of professional competence and the development of advanced mental health nursing roles:
\n
\nPreceptorship, mentorship and coaching
\n
\nClinical supervision
\n
\nPostgraduate education and training
\n
\nProfessional networking
\n
\nSupporting others
\n
\nResearch and service and quality improvement
\n
\nWe illustrate our discussion with exemplars from around Europe and the rest of the world and include case studies written by mental health nurses working at advanced levels of practice. We close by encouraging mental health nurses to seize the opportunities open to them to push forward the boundaries of practice.