CPD (continuous professional development) is something that is needed by the vast majority of worker sand those in cosmetic surgeries are no different. The need to continually improve and keep up to date with new practices is something which only makes you better and able to provide a high level service to clients.
Why is CPD important?
Continually training throughout your career allows you to constantly be at the top of your game. In the cutting edge world of cosmetic surgery this is never more important. The range of people that you work with, many of whom may be vulnerable, means that your skills need to be continually sharpened to ensure the best possible care. This is where CPD comes in!
What areas does CPD cover?
CPD training can cover a huge number of areas. There is no one box you have to tick. This means that CPD can be a way for you to reflect on your own strengths and weaknesses and find areas for improvement. CPD can cover safeguarding of patients, administering medication, health and safety or various aspects of client care.
Looking at your own skills and identifying weakness is the best place to start. Looking at the work you do and being able to see your own weaknesses is a great skill. It might be that you need to have the ability to put patients more at ease prior to surgery. Or it could be that you need to develop your understanding of how to work inclusively. Whatever the area is, there will be CPD to cover you and help you improve your weaknesses.
How does CPD help me?
Put simply, CPD continuously improves you! It is not a quick fix where you do a course and all-of-sudden become an expert in an area. CPD is about undertaking a continual process of learning and ensuring you get better in your role every day. There will always be something you can improve upon so there is always some form of CPD that will benefit you. It might be that this is just a case of keeping up-to-date with changes in legislation or new published articles – this is still a way for you to learn something new every day.
Where do I access CPD?
Unlike some qualifications, CPD can be accessed in numerous ways. There are online courses which can be undertaken as well as training days which will be face-to-face. Practical skills such as working with new medication might be completed as well. However, you don’t even have to complete CPD in a formal method. You might read an article in a magazine, research s new topic or shadow someone else working in cosmetic surgery to increase your learning and grow your knowledge.
There you go – CPD is not as much of a mystery as you first thought! The main thing is to continually open your mind to new learning possibilities which can come in a range of forms. Having read this article, what do you think are the areas you can improve upon?
By David Lee
David Lee works at the CPD Online College ensuring that all courses are in-depth and industry specific.
