Survey of distance technology use in AACN member schools

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing surveyed its members by using a 104-item instrument to determine the state of the art in distance technology use. Survey results indicated a recent acceleration of course offerings through distance technology at all levels of nursing education. The most cited reason for this was to improve access to nursing education. Resources for distance technology tended to reside in public, rather than private, institutions. Trends were for greater use of video and computer-based technologies. Although technology use is increasing, computers and other technologies are not used in the didactic or clinical educational experience in many schools. Areas for further evaluation are identified.