Effect of e-learning on nurses' continuing professional development.

Abstract

Background: E-learning can provide nurses with the opportunity to undertake lifelong learning and continuing professional development (CPD) in a flexible, practical and engaging manner. However, much of the research focuses on pre-registration nursing students' experiences of e-learning, despite nursing students not always experiencing the same clinical demands as registered nurses.

Aim: To explore the concept of e-learning and nurses' perception of its value for engaging with lifelong learning and CPD, as well as to determine attitudes towards e-learning, what influencing factors exist and how they affect the perceived value of e-learning.

Method: This study used a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design, in which there were two phases of data collection and analysis. In the first phase, 39 children's nurses completed questionnaires about e-learning and its flexibility, accessibility, value and contribution to CPD. Their responses were analysed and used to inform questions for the second phase, which involved semi-structured interviews exploring the findings and emerging themes from the completed questionnaires. Of the 39 questionnaire respondents, 12 agreed to participate in the interviews.

Findings: More than half of the questionnaire respondents ( n =22/39) agreed or strongly agreed that e-learning aids their CPD, while 29 respondents valued e-learning that is specific to their practice area. Three main factors were identified that may influence the effect of e-learning on nurses' CPD: motivation to engage with CPD and e-learning; the perceived value of e-learning as a method for CPD; and challenges to effective engagement with e-learning.

Conclusion: Engagement with e-learning is influenced by the content of its modules and, while mandatory training is often provided through e-learning, this should not be its sole purpose. Nurses should take the opportunity to develop and engage with e-learning that is specific to their area of practice, which may increase its value.