Evaluating the impact of continual professional education (ENB 941)

It is often assumed that participation in continuing professional education (CPE) activities necessarily results in maintenance of competence and improvements in nursing practice. A literature review revealed that evaluation of CPE activities is frequently limited to the completion of forms at the conclusion of the offering, indicating the extent to which the objectives have been achieved and the general level of satisfaction of the participants. Very little attention seems to have been paid to the longer term effects of the CPE activity on the individual participant or on their ability to provide an enhanced level of nursing practice--the raison d'être of CPE. This project was designed to explore the impact of ENB 941 on course participants. A group of 11 nurses and their six clinical managers were interviewed 10 months following course completion to discuss the effects of the course on the professional, educational and individual development of course participants and on their ability to improve nursing practice. Analysis of the interviews suggests that all group members used some of the opportunities available in the course to further their development. All clinical managers agreed that despite staffing and financial implications, the course provided value for money in terms of staff development and enhanced nursing practice.