A Distance Accessible Education Model: Teaching Skills to Nurse Practitioners

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Administration
• Nursing Practice

Background:

• Rural healthcare providers face challenges attending in-person continuing education due to staffing limitations.
• The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the need for virtual continuing education options in healthcare.
• Accessible training is crucial for maintaining and enhancing healthcare provider skills, especially in underserved areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of virtual continuing education for healthcare providers.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of remote competency validation for clinical procedures.
• To explore alternative training methods for rural healthcare professionals.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive study design was employed.
• Data collection included a presurvey for demographics, posttraining instruments, and a competency validation checklist.
• The study focused on nurse practitioner (NP) students and practicing NPs.

Main Results:

• All participants successfully met competency standards in the skills validation component.
• The virtual format proved effective for both continuing education delivery and skills assessment.
• The study sample comprised nurse practitioner students and practicing NPs.

Conclusions:

• Virtual continuing education and competency validation for clinical procedures are achievable.
• Remote training offers a viable solution for healthcare providers, particularly in rural settings.
• This approach can help overcome traditional barriers to professional development in healthcare.