Nursing Study Identifies High Need for Continuing Education
The final report from a key study to identify the current and future skills and knowledge required by Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) on Prince Edward Island has just been released. Respondents to the study identified a high need for formal and informal continuing education, indicating nurses' commitment to maintaining competence in their profession.
The study was guided by the Nursing Continuing Education Task Group, with representatives from the UPEI School of Nursing, Holland College, PEI Nurses Union, Association of Registered Nurses of PEI, Licensed Practical Nurses Association of PEI, PEI Licensed Practical Nurses Registration Board, the PEI Department of Health and Department of Education. The group mailed questionnaires to the 1541 members of the Association of Registered Nurses of PEI and to the 650 LPNs registered with the PEI Licensed Practical Nurses Registration Board.
Janet Bryanton, an assistant professor at the UPEI School of Nursing and co-principal investigator for the study stated, "We were really pleased with our response rate of 48.7 per cent, with 731 RNs and 326 LPNs completing the survey. Ninety-nine per cent of those who responded, regardless of age or area of work, identified a very strong interest in continuing education across a broad spectrum of skills and knowledge. There was a striking similarity in the continuing education needs of RNs and LPNs."
Keys findings of the study included:
and#149; There are major barriers to addressing current and future knowledge and skills gaps including not being able to get time off from work (no one to backfill shifts); too many work demands; and lack of financial support from professional associations, employers, and post-secondary institutions.
and#149; Nurses in rural areas identified barriers to accessing continuing education resources, such as access to hospital or university library resources, and to high-speed Internet.
and#149; The most commonly identified topics for continuing education included stress management, legal issues, computerized charting, pain management, and assertiveness training. Nurses also require support to improve general computer skills.
While LPNs identified a need for further education in specific areas, many also highlighted the fact that their existing competencies are not always recognized. Forty per cent of LPNs
indicated that they have no opportunity in their work sites to practice to their level of training and education. Sharon Drake of the LPN Association of PEI remarked, "The study confirms that LPNs believe they are not able to practice to the level that they are educated. We informally heard this from our members but now have the evidence to substantiate this belief."
The study's findings gave rise to 22 recommendations that address the barriers to continuing education and building nursing capacity within the health care system, and that reflect the shared responsibility of all stakeholders. The first two recommendations are seen as key to addressing many of the issues identified by the study. They focus on the need for PEI to develop a comprehensive human resources strategy for nurses, and they stress the importance of reinstating a nursing leadership position to coordinate such a strategy. The report notes that in other jurisdictions a Chief Nursing Officer plays such a leadership role.
Helen Flynn, President of the Association Registered Nurses of PEI stated, "This is the most comprehensive study of educational needs of RNs and LPNs ever conducted on PEI. The findings will guide the advancement of continuing education and will assist in retention of nurses in the workplace. Task group members will work together to develop a strategy to address the recommendations."
Funding for the project was provided through the Canada-Prince Edward Island Labour Market
Development Agreement, co-managed by Service Canada and the provincial Department of
Development and Technology. More information on the study is available at
http://www.upei.ca/nursing/Executive_Summary.pdf or contact Janet Bryanton, UPEI School of Nursing, at jbryanton@upei.ca. A copy of the final report is available at http://www.upei.ca/nursing/Compressed_repor_app.pdf.
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Contact Information
Janet Bryanton, UPEI, 902 628-4344 (study methodology and findings)
Sylvia Poirier, ARNPEI and co-chair of the study, 902 566-9517 (concerns of registered nurses)
Margaret Duffy, PEI Nurses Union, 902 892-7152 (nurses' working conditions)
Sharon Drake, LPNAPEI, 902 894-2192 (concerns of licensed practical nurses)
Dr. Kim Critchley, 902 628-4300, UPEI School of Nursing (degree programs)
