Developing a Professional Portfolio in Nursing

A professional portfolio is a collection of carefully selected materials that document the nurse's competencies and illustrate the expertise of the nurse. Since a portfolio is developed over time, it also provides a way of monitoring professional development. By periodically reviewing the portfolio, nurses can assess their progress in meeting personal and professional goals and can better plan their careers in nursing. This article describes professional portfolios, their uses in nursing, and how to develop and maintain one.A professional portfolio is a collection of carefully selected materials that document the nurse's competencies and illustrate the expertise of the nurse. Since a portfolio is developed over time, it also provides a way of monitoring professional development. By periodically reviewing the portfolio, nurses can assess their progress in meeting personal and professional goals and can better plan their careers in nursing. This article describes professional portfolios, their uses in nursing, and how to develop and maintain one.A professional portfolio is a collection of carefully selected materials that document the nurse's competencies and illustrate the expertise of the nurse. Since a portfolio is developed over time, it also provides a way of monitoring professional development. By periodically reviewing the portfolio, nurses can assess their progress in meeting personal and professional goals and can better plan their careers in nursing. This article describes professional portfolios, their uses in nursing, and how to develop and maintain one.A professional portfolio is a collection of carefully selected materials that document the nurse's competencies and illustrate the expertise of the nurse. Since a portfolio is developed over time, it also provides a way of monitoring professional development. By periodically reviewing the portfolio, nurses can assess their progress in meeting personal and professional goals and can better plan their careers in nursing. This article describes professional portfolios, their uses in nursing, and how to develop and maintain one. All nurses should maintain a professional portfolio to reflect on their own development of knowledge and skills over time, present evidence of competencies, and market themselves when applying for career ladder positions or new jobs in nursing. A professional portfolio contains materials that document the nurse's competencies and experiences and illustrate the career path of the nurse. Artists, photographers, designers, and other professionals use portfolios to showcase their work for clients and potential employers. Portfolios in nursing accomplish the same purpose - they showcase the nurse's background and expertise for others to review. This article describes professional portfolios, their uses in nursing, and how to develop and maintain one.