Hi everyone and welcome back to Nursing Together, A space for support, growth, and empowerment for nurses just like you. I'm your host, Michelle Hoen, and today we are going to be talking about something that truly defines our identities as nurses professional practice. I know when you hear professional practice, it sounds kind of formal or abstract, sometimes tucked into, our policies are hidden in a magnet documentation, but in reality it's about you, your voice, and how you grow as a nurse, right at the bedside with your team and for your patients. Let's. Break it down and let's talk about how we can all grow and advance in professional excellence together. Professional practice is the art and science of nursing brought to life. It is something from how we advocate for our patients to how we communicate as a team and to how we engage in evidence-based care. It is grounded in nursing standards, ethics, accountability, and a lifelong of learning. But at its heart, it's about how we show up every single day. Let me say this, clear. Every nurse is a professional nurse. Whether you are a first year nurse or your 20th year professional practice is about your growth. Expertise and your impact. And here's the thing. Professional practice doesn't just happen to us. We create it together, how we care, how we lead, and how we support one another. Nursing is always changing new regulations, new policies, and innovation. As nurses, we need to ensure that we are keeping up with all of those things around us. We need to be resilient and engaging. So how do we grow in professional practice? Let's talk about five powerful ways to advance excellence in your role and how your organization can support you in that journey. First, stay curious. Commit yourself to lifelong leading. Being curious is one of the most professional things you can do. Attend educational sessions. Ask why in huddles and seek out evidence behind the care you provide. Maybe it's reading one research article a month, or maybe it's joining a journal club or mentoring a new grad. Curiosity fuels excellence. I have always found ways to be involved in new things, whether it's a pilot or getting involved in different nursing organizations or reading different things that are coming up in our nursing world. I love learning new things and keeping my brain working all the time. I find new challenges within my practice to keep me on this journey. I've advanced my education. Through the years, and I have also tried many different roles. Don't worry about where you end up. Just try something new. One of the best ways is to get a subscription to a nursing journal. It's the first and easiest way to get started. Second, get involved in shared governance or your unit councils. You have a voice, use it. Shared governance is where nurses shape policies, improve workflows and influence decisions that affect patient care. It's about being at the table, not just receiving the decision. If you have a unit council, join it. If not, start one. Professional nurses are leaders no matter what their title is. I have said it time and time again, one of the best ways to continue your professional practice is to be involved with your shared governance. This is important at all levels of the organization, and I urge you to be a part of your unit or hospital's shared governance committee. Seek specialty certifications. Specialty certifications are a badge of excellence, and more importantly, they deepen your clinical knowledge and confidence. Many organizations support this through reimbursement or review classes. It's an investment in you in the safety and quality of care. When I was a manager, I thought it would be fun to get my unit excited about receiving a certification. We created a work group every week where we went over questions, helped each other out with the learning process, and at the end, 60% of that unit. Participated and received their med-surg certification. Reflect and set goals. Professional practice includes self-reflection. Where do you shine? Where do you wanna grow? Ask for feedback from your peers or leaders. Set goals, not just performance goals, but growth goals. Maybe it's continuing communication, getting a higher degree, learning a new skillset or precepting. Own your path. Celebrate each other. A professional practice environment is one where excellence is seen and celebrated. Recognize your colleagues. These can be things like DAISY awards, shout outs, kudo boards, whatever it takes. Elevating each other's lift our entire. Profession. So let's start this conversation,'cause I'd love to hear what does professional practice mean to you? How have you grown in your roles in the past? What support do you need from leadership to reach out to the next level? Send me a message tag nursing together on social media. Or talk to your teammates. Professional excellence doesn't happen alone. It happens when we grow together. I wanna leave you with this. You are already a professional nurse. You have the power to shape your practice, influence your workplace, and lift others. When we strive for excellence, we don't just meet standards, we raise them together. Let's build a culture where professional growth is expected, supported, and celebrated. Because when nurses thrive, everyone thrives. So until next time, stay connected, stay grounded, and always remember we're nursing together.