Exploring ward nurses' perceptions of continuing education in clinical settings

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Systems
• Professional Development

Background:

• Healthcare systems require nurses to be competent and continuously update their skills for safe, patient-centered care.
• Lifelong learning is crucial for nurses, often facilitated by clinical nurse educators within the work environment.
• Understanding nurses' values and needs regarding continuing education is essential for effective service delivery and enhanced patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the values and perceptions of clinical ward-based nurses concerning continuing education.
• To identify factors impacting continuing education within the hospital ward setting.

Main Methods:

• A case study approach was employed in a major teaching hospital in Melbourne, Australia.
• Data were collected from 23 clinical nursing staff through four focus groups and six semi-structured interviews.
• Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes from the qualitative data, exploring values and perceptions of continuing education.

Main Results:

• Three primary themes emerged: 'culture and attitudes,' 'what is learning?', and 'being there-being seen.'
• These themes reflect nurses' values and perceptions of education and learning within their workplace.
• The study identified various factors influencing nurses' ability and motivation to engage in lifelong learning.

Conclusions:

• Continuing education is perceived as important by nurses, despite varied values and perceptions in clinical settings.
• Nurses desire changes to facilitate lifelong learning and foster a supportive learning culture.
• Clinical nurse educators and organizational support are vital for promoting and sustaining continuing education and lifelong learning.