Continuing professional development (CPD) is a key aspect of any profession and fundamental to the development of a nation. The Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Program (MCPDP) as it is known in the nursing profession inNigeria is aimed at sustaining capabilities and introducing new skills for modern day practice needs. It also offers the prospect for nurses to improve and broaden their knowledge, expertise and develop the personal and professional qualities. This study analysed the experiences of nurses, both participants and facilitators of MCPDP during the 34th session of the MCPDP in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. A sequential explanatory mixed method design was adopted for the study. All the eighty nurses in attendance participated in the study. A self-developed semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the quantitative data. Qualitatively, eight participants and two facilitators were selected for in-depth interviews. The findings revealed that 18.9% of the respondents attended the MCPDP for license renewal, 18.9% attended to update their knowledge on current practices, while 59.5% attended for both purposes. The challenges in attending MCPDP were lack of time 24.6%, lack of relief staff 23.3%, and high cost of MCPDP registration 20.9%. Organizational challenges included lack of finance due to low turnout of participants. Majority of the participants expressed willingness to participate in MCPDP in the future, while the few retired ones expressed having no need for MCPDP afterwards. The study disclosed that the existing approach for the program may require some form of adjustment so as to meet participants' and facilitators' needs. It was therefore recommended that the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria should review the program structure and organisation.

PurposeThe concept of standardized nursing languages (SNLs) was introduced to solve the problem created by the use of different terminologies to document care by nurses working in diversified contexts. This study explored professional nurses’ experiences in the utilization of SNL in documenting patients’ care.MethodsA qualitative descriptive design was adopted for this study, and a purposive sampling technique was used to select eight nurses for the study from a tertiary health facility. Data were collected using an in‐depth interview guide. Rigour and trustworthiness were ensured using the techniques of credibility, dependability, transferability, and confirmability. Data were analyzed according to Braun and Clarke's six‐step thematic analyses.FindingsThe key finding indicates that nurses appreciate the advantages of utilizing SNLs; however, they encounter some problems in formulating correct nursing diagnoses and several challenges in using SNLs, such as manpower shortage, lack of time, inappropriate materials, inadequate knowledge of NOC and NIC. These challenges have caused the utilization of SNLs among nurses to be poor.ConclusionsSNLs have been recognized as the gold standard for nursing practice; however, their usage is poor. To ensure the adequate use of SNLs, it is the responsibility of the nurse and the institution to resolve the barriers to the use of SNLs. The study recommends that the utilization of SNLS could be improved with the provision of more seminars, the creation of a policy on SNLs use, and the use of electronic documentationImplication to nursingThis study contributes by providing a picture of nurses’ experiences in utilizing SNLs in Nigeria, identifying challenges experienced and recommending ways to tackle these challenges.