Continuing education programs for registered nurses in hospitals and special care homes in Saskatoon
Abstract
It was the purpose of this investigation to gather
descriptive data about continuing education programs for
registered nurses in hospitals and special care homes in
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The data were collected to
address the following program components: (a) organization
and administration; (b) characteristics of program planning;
and (c) issues related to continuing education programs for
registered nurses. The specific focus of the study was the
continuing education program offered to registered nurses
from April 1, 1982 to March 31, 1983.
The population for this study consisted of 3 hospitals
and 12 special care homes which were all the accessible
hospitals and special care homes in Saskatoon. Instruments
used to collect the data included a pre-interview
questionnaire and an interview schedule which were
administered by the researcher to the person responsible for
the continuing education program. Additional data were
collected from program information which was provided in the
form of handouts and pamphlets.
In all, 16 continuing education programs for registered
nurses in hospitals and special care homes in Saskatoon were
identified. Variations were found in all program components
investigated. As a result of these program variations, no
typical profile of continuing education programs for
registered nurses in hospitals and special care homes was
found. Specific evidence of efforts of hospitals and special
care homes to encourage registered nurses to attend
continuing education activities outside of the employment
setting was documented.