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Critical care nurses' perceptions of their educational needs
W Chaboyer1, K Theobald, J Pocock
1Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Griffith University.
Summary
Critical care nurses in Queensland hospitals desire accredited, hospital-based graduate diploma education. Findings highlight educational gaps and differing staff stability between rural and metropolitan critical care units.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Education
- Critical Care Nursing
- Healthcare Workforce Development
Background:
- Critical care nursing demands specialized skills and ongoing education.
- Assessing educational needs is crucial for professional development and patient care quality.
- Understanding geographic variations in nursing education and workforce stability is important.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the educational needs of critical care nurses in Queensland.
- To compare the perceptions of rural and metropolitan nurses regarding critical care education.
- To identify implications for educational program development.
Main Methods:
- A survey was distributed to nurses in critical care units across 89 Queensland hospitals.
- Data were collected from 62 respondents, representing both rural and metropolitan settings.
- Analysis focused on preferred education formats, accreditation, and perceived adequacy of current training.
Main Results:
- Most nurses preferred hospital-based critical care education accredited as a graduate diploma.
- Rural and metropolitan nurses reported similar educational needs.
- Many nurses worked in facilities lacking adequate orientation or in-service critical care education.
- Metropolitan units experienced higher nursing staff turnover compared to more stable rural workforces.
Conclusions:
- There is a clear demand for accessible, accredited critical care nursing education.
- Educational program development must address identified gaps and consider workforce stability differences.
- Hospital-based graduate diploma programs are favored by critical care nurses.