Continuing Nursing Education: What Resources Do Bedside Nurses Use?

[Continuing education in psychiatric nursing: a reflection on concepts]

The concern with continuing education programs that prepare nurses to work in psychiatric nursing led us to conduct this study, the first one on the "development of psychiatric and mental health nursing personnel" research line. Its objective is to make a reflection on the concepts of continuing education, in-service and permanent, found in recent nursing education literature. To carry out the literature review of the concepts we reviewed the MEDLINE and LILACS data bases, theses and dissertations and a number of classical titles on the theme. After the analysis of the concepts and discussions with experts, we concluded that the continuing in-service education denomination is the one that presents more consonance with the authors and experts that were consulted, as well as the one that better meets the demands of knowledge in the area of psychiatric nursing towards the quality of assistance.

Continuing Education for Nurses: A Necessity or a Nicety?

The changing health care climate has resulted in escalating financial constraints. One department that is often scrutinized for its cost-benefit relation to the hospital is the nursing education department. These departments are increasingly being reduced in size and investment in the continuing education of nurses is being rationalized. However, reducing financial support of education may be counterproductive in both the short- and long-term. This article does not propose a "recipe" for effectively facilitating continuing education. However, it does provide sound justification for investing in the continuing education of nurses and demonstrates not only that quality education results in enhanced knowledge and skills, but that there is also a positive correlation between professional development and factors such as staff satisfaction, staff retention, and quality patient care.

Self-directed learning: implications and limitations for undergraduate nursing education

Self-directed learning (SDL) is an educational concept that has received increasing attention in recent years, particularly in the context of higher education. Whilst the benefits of SDL have been espoused by a number of adult education theorists (Brookfield, S., 1986. Understanding and Facilitating Adult Learning. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco; Houle, C., 1984. Patterns of Learning: New Perspectives on Life-Span Education. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco; Knowles, M., 1998. The Adult Leaner: A Neglected Species, fifth ed., Gulf, Houston; Tough, A., 1979. The Adults Learning Project: A Fresh Approach to Theory and Practice in Adult Learning. Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, Toronto), its introduction into curricula has not always been successful (Nolan, J., Nolan, M., 1997a. Self-directed and student-centred learning in nurse education: 1. British Journal of Nursing 6 (1), 51-55; Nolan, J., Nolan, M., 1997b. Self-directed and student-centred learning in nurse education: 2. British Journal of Nursing 6 (2), 103-107; Slevin, O., Lavery, M., 1991. Self-directed learning and student supervision. Nurse Education Today 11, 368-377). The indiscriminate application of SDL principles and poorly prepared teachers and/or students has at times meant that the introduction of SDL has been resented rather than welcomed (Iwasiw, C., 1987. The role of the teacher in self-directed learning. Nurse Education Today 7, 222-227; Turunen, H., Taskinen, H., Voutilainen, U., Tossavainen, K., Sinkkonen, S., 1997. Nursing and social work students' initial orientation towards their studies. Nurse Education Today 17, 67-71). This paper clarifies and explores these issues by: (a) examining the origins of SDL; (b) discussing the relevance of self-directed learning to Knowles' theory of adult learning and contemporary educational practices such as enquiry based learning and problem based learning; and (c) highlighting the implications and limitations of SDL with regard to adult education in general, and undergraduate nursing education in particular.

Competence, Continuing Education, and Computers

A survey of RNs in South Dakota was performed to determine their perceived level of competence, the extent to which their continuing nursing education (CNE) needs are being met, and their use of computers for CNE. Nationally certified nurses rated themselves significantly more competent than nurses who are not nationally certified. Fewer than half of the RNs reported their CNE needs were being met despite geographic access to CNE and programs available in their specialty. Three-fourths of nurses had computers at home while 76% had computers at work, yet fewer than 20% of nurses used these computers for CNE.

Enhancing the learning in self-directed learning modules

Self-directed learning modules are a popular option for providing continuing nursing education. Not all nurses are comfortable with this learning format. Nursing educators may be unfamiliar with strategies to facilitate self-directed learning. Self-directed learning is based on assumptions about adults as learners. Effectiveness and acceptance of the learning modules are enhanced by educational strategies that address these assumptions.

Continuing Education for Staff in Long-Term Care Facilities: Corporate Philosophies and Approaches

The purpose of this study was to determine corporate philosophies of continuing education and approaches to meeting the learning needs of staff who strive to provide for the increasingly challenging care requirements of seniors who reside in long-term care facilities. In-depth interviews lasting approximately 1 hour were conducted with key informants at the administrative level from nine long-term care facilities. Content analysis revealed a commitment to continuing education for staff. While recognizing the importance of organizational responsibility for continuing education, administrators placed emphasis on the individual responsibility of staff. Learning needs were identified as affective, managerial, and physical in nature. Challenges to providing continuing education programs were derived from a general lack of fiscal and human resources. A variety of measures was suggested as important to supporting the continuing learning of staff. Implications of this study point to the need for long-term care facilities to incorporate into their strategic plans measures of ensuring continuing education as a basis for the ongoing competence and development of staff. In addition, there is a need for collaboration between long-term care facilities and other institutions of a long-term care, acute care, and educational nature in the development of strategies to operationalize a philosophy of continuing learning as a basis for the provision of optimal care to residents.

Informal Education: A Hidden Element of Clinical Nurse Consultant Practice

A survey was conducted to investigate the amount of informal education provided by 16 community-based clinical nurse consultants (CNCs) in Sydney, Australia. The survey results indicated that the CNCs spent a substantial amount of time in informal teaching, of which only 3% was recorded as a legitimate educational activity. Findings from the survey support what has been reported in the literature, that skilled knowledge can be gained in the workplace when learners interact with experts. Through the avenue of informal teaching CNCs can positively contribute to quality nursing care by addressing on-the-job learning needs of community nurses.

The efficacy of an educational program to improve direct caregiver knowledge regarding fall prevention

One hundred seventy-one (N = 171) direct caregivers were tested to determine their baseline knowledge about patient falls and fall prevention and to determine the impact of a fall prevention education program on their knowledge. Following the pretesting of participants for baseline knowledge a 20-minute educational videotape was viewed. Identical posttesting of knowledge followed. Mean posttest scores (M = 14.01) were significantly higher (t = 17.883; p < 0.001) than the pretest scores, supporting the effectiveness of the educational program in increasing direct caregivers' knowledge related to fall prevention.