1. From Novice to Expert:
The Role of the Professional Portfolio
in the 21st Century Workforce

2. What is a Professional Portfolio?
“purposeful collection of…work that tells the story
of…efforts, progress and achievement in a given area”
 A collection of documents to recognize and evaluate
the knowledge base, abilities and attitudes of nurses
 These documents provide a narrative presentation of
a persons professional accomplishments
 The contents of the portfolio will vary depending on
how the portfolio will be used
Arter, J.A., Spandel, V., & Culham, R. (1995) Portfolios for assessment and instruction (Contract no. RR930002004) Washington DC: Office of Educational Research and Improvement.

3. What a Professional Portfolio is Not?
What a Professional Portfolio is Not?
 A shoe box or file of documents
 A transcript in a learning management system
 A history of education completed with an online
CE vendor
 A Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
 A web page (e.g., Facebook or Linked In)

4. Uses of a Professional Portfolio
 Education Tool
 Career Advancement
 Performance Evaluation
 Credentialing
 Initial Specialty Certification
 Regulation of Practice

5. Individual Benefits of Portfolios
 Demonstration of continuing professional
competence, not just continuing education
 Demonstration of critical thinking skills
 Ability to reflect on personal and professional
growth
 Personalization of work

6. Drivers behind Nursing Portfolios
 Move from Continuing Education to Continuing
Professional Competence
 The Relationship between Competence and
Outcomes
 Regulation and Credentialing
 Excellence Programs, e.g., Magnet & Baldrige
 The Emerging Nursing Workforce

7. The Defining Attributes of a Portfolio
 Organized
 As in the medical record, sections are consistent, e.g., nursing note, lab results
 Individualized
 As in the medical record, data within the section based on the individual
 Reflective
 Unlike the medical record, reflection on the past is acceptable
 Selective
 Activities included in a portfolio can be chosen based on use case
 Ongoing
 As in the medical record, the portfolio is a life-long record of professional
development
As utilized by ANCC (Monsen, R. B., 2005)

8. Output of an Electronic Portfolio
 Curriculum Vitae/Resume
 Supporting Documentation of Activities
– Professional Education
– Publications
– Presentations
– Honors, Awards, Special Achievements
– Professional Experience and Expertise
– Community Activities
 Reflective Documents

9. Attributes of The Professional Portfolio

10. Organized

11. Individualized

12. Reflective

13. Selective

14. Ongoing

15. Individual Benefits of
The Professional Portfolio by Decision Critical
 Decreased time involved in compiling the portfolio
 Elimination of cumbersome paper-based processes
 Create customized portfolios
 Secure password protected environment
 Real-time capture of activities
 Private access with any Internet connection
 Ease of distribution
 Assures compliance

16. Organization Benefits of
The Professional Portfolio by Decision Critical
 Centralized Professional Nursing Database
 Leadership Development
 Succession Planning
 Career Ladder
 Robust Reporting
 Magnet
 Compliance
 Competency

17. Aggregation of The Professional Portfolio Creates a
Comprehensive Professional Nursing Database

18. Questions?????
Contact: Gary Rust, Vice President of Sales
Decision Critical
1.800.794.1770
grust@decisioncritical.com
www.decisioncritical.com