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Summary
Nurses primarily engage in continuing education (CE) for professional growth and knowledge enhancement, not due to mandatory legal requirements. Motivations like professional advancement and acquiring new knowledge drive participation in nursing CE programs.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Education
- Professional Development
- Healthcare Workforce Studies
Background:
- Continuing education (CE) is crucial for maintaining nursing competency and adapting to evolving healthcare practices.
- Understanding nurses' motivations for CE participation is essential for effective program design and policy development.
- The legal status of CE (mandatory, proposed, voluntary) may influence participation, but underlying motivational factors are key.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the underlying motivational orientations driving nurses' participation in continuing education programs.
- To examine the relationship between these motivational orientations and the legal status of CE.
- To explore associations between motivational orientations and demographic characteristics of nurses.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 843 nurses participating in accredited baccalaureate nursing programs' CE events was surveyed.
- Data were collected using the 56-item Education Participation Scale (EPS) and a personal data sheet.
- Factor analysis identified seven motivational orientations, and analysis of variance assessed relationships with CE legal status and demographics.
Main Results:
- Seven key motivational orientations were identified: compliance with authority, social relations, social welfare skills, professional advancement, professional knowledge, relief from routine, and acquisition of credentials.
- Professional knowledge and professional advancement were the strongest motivators for CE participation.
- No significant differences in motivational orientations were found across mandatory, proposed, or voluntary CE, except for 'acquisition of credentials' among part-time nurses.
Conclusions:
- Nurses' participation in CE is primarily driven by intrinsic factors such as professional development and knowledge acquisition, rather than external mandates.
- The legal status of CE appears to have minimal influence on nurses' overall motivational orientations for participation.
- Findings underscore the importance of aligning CE programs with nurses' professional goals to foster engagement and improve public service capacity.