Benefits and costs of continuing nursing education: an analytical survey

Federal and statutory requirements demand and professional associations, health care agencies, and individual nurses expect benefits from nurses' participation in continuing nursing education (CNE). These benefits include: competence; improved quality of care; personal benefits, such as self-satisfaction; and social benefits, such as shorter hospital stays for patients. However, it is not clear from the literature whether CNE provides what is expected. Also, the costs of CNE are not clear. In this research, 244 registered nurses rated the benefits and identified the costs of CNE via a mailed survey. Personal benefits, accruing to the individual nurse, were rated highest and economic benefits were rated lowest. All cost data were positively skewed (many low costs). Opportunity cost (time lost from work) was higher than either direct (tuition) or indirect (travel, books/supplies, child care, and meals) cost. Employers were found to pay more of the cost of CNE than the individual nurse. No significant relationships were identified between the costs and the benefits of CNE.