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Nursing professional development is described by Benner (1984) as a journey building on knowledge and skill beginning with a novice nurse and progressing to an expert nurse. A variety of educational and professional opportunities is needed to support a nurses' acquisition of knowledge requisite skills. Based on predictions by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor (2004), the demand for nurses in ambulatory care settings will rapidly grow due to a combination of factors shifting patient care to ambulatory care settings. This shift will create the need for nurses to provide care to more complex patients. To meet the increasing demands for patient care, and address the future skill sets needed by an ambulatory nurse, professional development must be supported by organizations and individuals.
The American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing (AAACN) is a professional organization that supports the ongoing professional development of ambulatory care nurses, and its mission is to "Advance the art and science of ambulatory care nursing." It provides a variety of resources to support nurses in their professional development, from a novice ambulatory care nurse...