Nurse leaders have both an obligation and a professional responsibility to participate in professional development programs. While they are obligated to do so in order to maintain their license or certification, they are also responsible for ensuring that their practice is up-to-date with current standards of care.

The primary obligation of nurse leaders when it comes to professional development is compliance with relevant licensing/ certification requirements; this ensures that all practitioners remain knowledgeable about the latest advances in healthcare as well as informed of any changes made to existing laws and regulations governing patient care. Furthermore, keeping up-to-date on continuing education credits can help ensure that the leader remains competitive and marketable within his/ her respective field (Vu et al 2020).

On the other hand, there is also a professional responsibility for nurse leaders to stay abreast of new developments in order to provide safe, high quality and evidence-based care. This means participating in workshops, conferences or other educational activities which enhance knowledge/ competency levels while simultaneously helping them understand how best practices may apply to various clinical settings (Vu et al 2020). Not only does this allow them opportunities for growth but it also helps create an environment where everyone understands what is expected from each other thus improving team cohesion.

In conclusion, nurse leaders must fulfill both obligations and responsibilities when it comes to engaging in professional development programs – while one may require legal compliance another may be necessary due to ethical considerations; either way, participation in such activities can lead to better outcomes for patients by allowing providers access the most up-to date information regarding treatments/ procedures available.