The Importance Of Continuing Education

Working in the health care profession it is important to be a lifelong learner Leach, D. & Fletcher, S. (2008). By being a lifelong learner professionals are able to begin to understand how they can improve their patient’s quality of life and their clinical performance. Leach & Fletcher (2008), say that improving physician and health care professional’s performance relies on experience and reflection on experience. It is vital that as professionals one applies their learnings from formal education but also learn from practical experience that consists of patient interaction. The continuing education model described in Leach & Fletcher (2008) it talks about effectiveness in professionalism and patient care and this can be achieved by adapting
I am currently completing my third year in Therapeutic Recreation and up to this point in my life I have engaged in multiple types of learning. I have also been eager to learn new things in the context of school and also my personal life. As a child, I was learning about the world around me through experience from my parents, attending preschool and eventually elementary school. As defined previously, a lifelong learner states that an individual has the ability and motivation to continue to learn throughout their lifespan this also means adapting to change (Sim et al., 2003). At present, I am a student so I have access to past and current journals in my field. By completing a variety of assignments that include collaborative group work, written reports, online modules and hands on experience as a student I am able to continuing to educate myself as a lifelong learner. In my current situation and great access to resources I feel as though I am fostering my willingness and drive to learn. In terms of where I see myself in five years as a lifelong learner I hope to be a practicing certified therapeutic recreation specialist. By being a lifelong learner in my health profession I will begin to be able provide services that match the needs of my patients (Wilcock, Janes & Chambers, 2009). Most likely I will be working in a hospital or long term care setting meaning I will be working on an interprofessional with nurses, doctors, physiotherapists and occupational therapists just to name a few. Working as a team will be critical for me to remain a lifelong learner. Drawing on my colleague’s knowledge and experience will allow for me to share my knowledge and skill but also learn from their knowledge, skill and