Similiarities and differences between participants and nonparticipants of nursing continuing education

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Date
2004-12-15Author
Olfert, Margaret Elaine
Type
ThesisDegree Level
MastersMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Continuing education (CE) in nursing is a critical element in assuring quality health care for the public. Rapid changes in technology and increasing emphasis on utilizing current research findings in practice increases the importance of participation in CE. Many nurses, however, do not attend CE sessions. As provincial professional associations are looking at ways to ensure competency in practice, the issue of who participates in CE and who does not is becoming more relevant to employers and educators. p*A review of the literature found that while many studies looked at factors that increase participation in CE, few examined deterrents or barriers to CE participation in nursing. Few studies were found comparing CE participants with nonparticipants. This comparative descriptive study examined the similarities and differences between participants and nonparticipants of CE. Questionnaires, including the 40-item Deterrents to Participation Scale as well as some demographic and recent CE participation information, were distributed to a sample of acute care nurses in three different-sized hospitals in Saskatchewan. To maximize response rates, Dillman’s Total Design Method for surveys was used where possible. Means of the interval data was compared between the participants and nonparticipants. Cross tabulations were used to explore relationships among non-interval data. This study provided valuable insights into participation and nonparticipation in CE, and will thereby help employers and educators develop a deeper understanding of possible strategies that could increase participation in CE.
Degree
Master of Nursing (M.N.)Department
College of NursingProgram
College of NursingSupervisor
Smith, BarbaraCommittee
Stewart, Norma J.; MacDonald, Mary; Laing, Gail; Berenbaum, ShawnaCopyright Date
December 2004Subject
lifelong learning
deterrents to participation
disengagement
rural
distance
family responsibilities