Registered nurses have an obligation to be aware of changes in treatment modalities and be responsible and competent in the care that they provide. In an era of constant change, continuing education is intended to help nurses to stay abreast of technological and informational changes. Today, there are many state nursing associations mandating continuing education for licensure renewal.
The purpose of this study was to contribute to a better understanding of the participation of Illinois registered nurses in continuing education. More specifically, the study attempted to gather information that may assist managers in nursing organizations with the educational preparation and professional development necessary for nurses to adjust to changes in the healthcare field.
A descriptive research methodology was employed to examine beliefs and practices regarding continuing education for nurses. The researcher mailed a survey that included a letter of introduction and questionnaire to each administrative director of patient care services agreeing to participate in the study. The instrument was a closed-question survey. Data were collected from 694 registered nurses in 32 hospitals from 29 counties in Illinois.
A statistically significant relationship existed between the respondents' incentives for participation in continuing education and their: (1) region (county of residence); and (2) educational attainment.
A statistically significant relationship also existed between the respondents and their perceptions regarding participation in continuing education topics of interest and their: (1) years of licensure as a registered nurse; (2) size of the hospital where the nurse was employed; and (3) primary area of practice.
Lack of financial support was reported as a major barrier for nurses not participating in continuing education programs. Nurses practicing in specialty areas of medicine reported a greater interest in continuing education programs than nurses with less experience. The research study suggests that continuing education is a vital component for the nursing profession to provide state-of-the-art nursing practice and patient care.
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