Nursing Professional Development (NPD) is a specialized nursing practice that facilitates the professional role development and growth of nurses and other healthcare personnel along the continuum from novice to expert. Continual changes in healthcare require nurses to commit to lifelong learning, which enhances professional practice and improves the health of the public. We are proud of all the work we do to provide the highest level of quality professional development to the nursing profession. NPD work is critical to quality patient and organizational outcomes, especially in critical times, and we are making a positive impact every day. NPD practitioners are essential supporters of frontline workers.

Publications/presentations

  • Sabrina McKinney: Podium presentation, ANCC Nursing Continuing Professional Development 2023 Summit, "Leveraging NCPD: Advancing Practice through Advancing Quality Outcomes," October 2023
  • Sandy Phan, Alicia Vasey, and Kimiko McCulloch: Podium presentation, Association of Nursing Professional Development Conference, “Leveling Up Evidence-Based Practice in New Graduate Nurses”, March 2023
  • Alicia Vasey and Ashley Vieira: Poster presentation, Association of Nursing Professional Development Conference, "Junction to a New Beat: Development of Self- Directed ECG Course", March 2023
  • Jan Shepard: Publication in Journal of Emergency Nursing, "A Quality Improvement Initiative on Reducing Blood Culture Contamination in the Emergency Department", March 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jen.2022.11.005
  • Monica Aguilar and Diane Mua-Xiong: Publication in Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, “Meeting Practice Transition Accreditation Program Standards Amidst a Pandemic Through a Virtual Blended Preceptor Course”, January/February 2023. https://doi.org/10.1097/NND.0000000000000952
  • Sandy Phan: Poster presentation, Association of California Nurse Leaders, "Developing Nurse Leaders Through Professional Organizations and Education", January 2023
  • Sabrina McKinney: Podium presentation, ANCC Nursing Continuing Professional Development 2022 Summit, “Onboarding in Accreditation: More than a Manual”, October 2022 
  • Diane Mua-Xiong: Podium presentation, Inaugural Hmong Nurses Association (HNA) national conference, “Being an Effective Leader”, August 2022 
  • Diane Mua-Xiong: Moderator, Breaking Down Barriers to Nursing Conference, August 2022 
  • Sandy Phan: Publication in Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, “Promoting Civility in the Workplace Addressing Bullying in New Graduate Nurses Using Simulation and Cognitive Rehearsal”, April 2022. https://doi.org/10.1097/NND.0000000000000875   
  • Kimiko McCulloch: Podium Presentation, 2022 American Organization for Nursing Leadership, “Developing Leaders of the Future”, April 2022  
  • Monica Aguilar and Diane Mua-Xiong: Podium presentation, 2022 Association for Nursing Professional Development, “Team Up: The Journey to Develop a Virtual Blended Preceptor Course”, March 2022  
  • Sabrina McKinney: Panel presentation general session, 2022 Association for Nursing Professional Development Conference, “ANPD Academies: Demonstrating the Value of NPD through Measurable Outcomes”, March 2022  
  • Sandy Phan: Podium presentation, 2022 Association for Nursing Professional Development Conference, “Forging the Way for NPD Role Development Using NPD Scope and Standards and Wright Competency Model”, March 2022  
  • Sabrina McKinney: Poster presentation, 2022 Association for Nursing Professional Development Conference, “Incorporating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into Systemwide CE Curriculum”, March 2022  
  • Sandy Phan: Poster presentation, 2022 Association for Nursing Professional Development Conference, “Promoting Civility as NPD Practitioners: Addressing Bullying in Newly Licensed Nurses Using Simulation and Cognitive Rehearsal”, March 2022  
  • Diane Mua-Xiong: Podium presentation, CSUS 4th Annual Asian Pacific Islander Desi American College Day, “Welcome to Nursing 101”, March 2022 
  • Krista Greaves and Kimiko McCulloch: Poster Presentation, 2021 Association for Nursing Professional Development Conference, “Restructuring Nursing Orientation to Build an Engaged Workforce”, August 2021  
  • Sabrina McKinney: Podium presentation, ANCC NCPD 2021 Conference: “Support During the Pandemic: Impact of an Expanded Orientation on New Graduate Nurse Confidence”, November 2021  
  • Sabrina McKinney and Monica Aguilar: Publication in the Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, "Implementing a comprehensive preceptor development program through professional governance", March 2020, https://doi.org/10.1097/NND.0000000000000613

Program accreditation

The NCPD Premier Award recognizes accredited organizations that excel in providing high quality nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) activities. NCPD Premier Award recipients are organizations that stand out, excel, and function at a higher level above and beyond their peers. These organizations are role models and serve as exemplars in the field of NCPD to assist others to advance to excellence.


ANCC Accredited Provider Unit - 05/24/2021 - 11/30/2025

  • UC Davis Health - Center for Professional Practice of Nursing is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.


ANCC Practice Transition Accreditation Program (PTAP) - 05/24/2021 - 07/31/2025

  • UC Davis New Graduate Nurse Residency Program is accredited with distinction as a Practice Transition Program by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation in Practice Transition Programs. UC Davis New Graduate Nurse Residency Program at UC Davis Health is recognized by the ANCC Practice Transition Accreditation Program® (PTAP) as an Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAP).


Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, CEP 26


UC Davis Heath - Center for Professional Practice of Nursing, provider #1866, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 5/20/2024 – 5/20/2025.