Rural nurses as self-directed learners: overcoming obstacles to continuing education

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Continuing Professional Development
• Rural Health

Background:

• Rural nurses face unique challenges in professional growth and continuing education.
• Self-directed learning (SDL) is a potential strategy to address these educational needs.
• Assessing nurse competencies and motivational factors is crucial for effective program design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a field test of a self-directed learning (SDL) program for rural nurses.
• To assess rural nurses' self-perceived competencies in SDL.
• To examine the relationship between motivation (loci of control) and SDL skills in this population.

Main Methods:

• A field test of an SDL program was conducted with rural nurses.
• Data were collected on self-perceived competencies in SDL.
• Loci of control for motivation were assessed to understand motivational factors.

Main Results:

• Sixty-two percent of rural nurses rated themselves as self-directed learners.
• A significant negative relationship was found between high learner skills and internal motivation ratings.
• Perceived loci of control did not significantly impact self-rated SDL abilities in the stressful rural environment.

Conclusions:

• Self-directed learning (SDL) offers a viable alternative for continuing education for rural nurses.
• Despite challenges, rural nurses demonstrate a capacity for self-directed learning.
• Further research is needed to understand the interplay between motivation and SDL in rural practice settings.