Continuing education of paediatric nurses in Vojvodina, Serbia

The purpose of this study was to identify the need and degree of interest for continuing education of paediatric nurses at the Institute for Child and Youth Health Care of Vojvodina.

Descriptive study with prospective approach, which involved the use of surveys to elicit data collection. Data were collected during January and May of 2008.

In this study 94% of paediatric nurses who participated in the study have secondary education in nursing, and 80% have not attended any forms of continuing education thus far, and 8% had presented papers at national seminars. No forms of continuing education were found dominant, while nurses with less years of work experience, showed statistically much greater interest in continuing education.

Paediatric nurses in this study show the need for moral, ethical, and financial support from their supervisors and employers to realize their interest in continuing education, in accordance with their individual abilities.

Information about the specific educational needs of paediatric nurses in terms of content and methods provide a valuable guide for planning the effective continuing education programs, seminars, and professional conferences for improving clinical practice and providing exemplary nursing care to children.