The Education Decision Tree Makes it Easy
The ANPD Education Decision Tree is an interactive resource designed to help nursing professional development (NPD) practitioners systematically assess education requests and determine the most appropriate interventions to address identified practice gaps. Grounded in the Nursing Professional Development: Scope and Standards of Practice, the Education Decision Tree supports intentional decision-making throughout the education design process.
ANPD Educaiton Manager Sarah Hardacker, MSN, RN, NPDA-BC® shares how the tool's step-by-step process supports NPD practitioners in assessing education requests, identifying practice gaps, and determining the most appropriate interventions to achieve desired outcomes.
Access the Education Decision Tree
The Education Decision Tree is available for purchase in the ANPD Continuing Education Center. Your purchase includes a learning experience to walk you through using the tool, an interactive version of the decision tree, a downloadable one-page PDF of the decision tree, 1.0 nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) contact hour upon successful completion.
- ANPD Member: $15
- Non-Member: $20
- Bulk purchases (25+ participants): $10 per participant
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Association for Nursing Professional Development is accredited with distinction as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation
Supporting the Learning Facilitator Role
Education is frequently requested as a solution to practice and performance challenges. However, education alone does not always address the root cause of an identified gap. The Education Decision Tree guides helps practitioners assess requests before immediately developing educational solutions. By encouraging thoughtful analysis and intentional decision-making, the tool helps practitioners identify the interventions most likely to achieve desired outcomes
The Education Decision Tree helps NPD practitioners
- Assess education requests using a systematic approach.
- Increase confidence in educational decision-making.
- Determine whether education is the most appropriate intervention.
- Align practice with the Nursing Professional Development: Scope and Standards of Practice.
- Plan, implement, and evaluate educational initiatives more effectively.
- Support learning and professional role competence.
- Integrate educational assessment and gap analysis into existing workflows.
Practical Applications
The Education Decision Tree can be integrated into a variety of NPD workflows, including:
- Teaching and mentoring new NPD practitioners.
- Navigating conversations about requests for education.
- Conducting gap analyses.
- Supporting evidence-informed educational planning.
If you've ever found yourself struggling with how to respond to an education request, the Education Decision Tree provides a practical framework for making confident, intentional decisions.
Related Resources
Known Costs Table
The Known Costs Table lists costs of various conditions that may be impacted by educational interventions. This resource may help NPD practitioners demonstrate the value of their activities.
Nursing Professional Development: Scope and Standards of Practice
Build a deeper understanding of NPD practitioner roles, responsibilities, and competencies while strengthening your foundation in the specialty.
Nursing Professional Development Practice Model
Explore the framework that illustrates how NPD practitioners identify practice gaps, facilitate learning, drive change, and influence healthcare outcomes.