A framework to identify learning needs for continuing nurse education using information technology

This paper concerns one of the main problems facing continuing nurse education, that of matching the learning needs of the individual nurse with the needs of the care setting. This endeavour is inescapable because of the necessity for giving high quality care within financial restraint. Modern information technology, it is suggested, can be helpful in fulfilling the task more easily. A theoretical framework is introduced as a possible solution for developing a computer program which, it is the hope of the author, will be available in the not so far future.     

Using visual assessment to identify a client's needs

Assessing the eyesight of people with learning disabilities may involve some ingenuity to get an accurate result. This paper describes a project to explore the role of the RNMH is assessing such patients' visual acuity.     

Focus group interviews: assessment of continuing education needs for the advanced practice nurse

This article reports the use of focus group interviews to promote the development of continuing education programs that meet the needs of advanced practice nurses (APNs). The three major needs identified were: a) enhancement of clinical practice skills and knowledge in specialty areas, b) education about future changes in the APN role, and c) education in management strategies for the changing health care delivery system. A summary of the investigation and implications for continuing nursing education departments are also presented.     

AOA continuing medical education

The effects of roxithromycin, a macrolide antibiotic, on neutrophil activities were investigated in six seriously handicapped patients with severe mental retardation. Neutrophil activities were evaluated by flow cytometry using a heparinized blood analysis method. All six patients showed decreased levels of neutrophil phagocytosis, intracellular killing, and CD11b expression. Treatment with roxithromycin in vitro selectively restored the decreased phagocytic and bactericidal activities of neutrophils in these patients. There was no significant restorative effect with cefaclor, ofloxacin, or aztreonam. These results suggest the need to consider therapeutic effects of antibiotics on neutrophil functions in patients at increased risk for bacterial infections due to decreased neutrophil activities.     

A research project as a means for continuing education

A project designed to encourage general practitioners to provide care in the earliest phases of coronary heart disease is reported from South Africa. A total of 129 general practitioners were actively involved and over 3,000 practitioners showed interest and attended at least one meeting.     

Nurses' experiences of continuing education

This article outlines some of the main findings from a survey into the experiences of nurses with continuing professional education following the introduction of the UKCC's standards for post registration education and practice (PREP). This survey was conducted jointly by the Queen's Nursing Institute and Nursing Times.     

Psychology and education: A continuing, productive partnership.

Notes that in recent discussions about economic recovery in the US, 2 factors have fundamental behavioral and psychological correlates: One factor is a set of educational and motivational attributes of the citizenry, and the other is the accumulation of capital and its investment in equipment and research and development. Advances in a broad range of psychological research, particularly in the areas of learning and teaching, have contributed to improving educational systems. It is noted, however, that less than 5% of all federal funds allocated for education are spent on research relevant to understanding education. Opportunities for a continuing, productive partnership between psychology and education are highlighted. Interviews with 3 individuals involved in education (W. H. McGuire, Rep. P. Williams, and M. Thompson) are summarized. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Satellite-delivered continuing medical education in Europe

There is increasing recognition of the need for continuing medical education in the medical profession. There are now many ways of delivering medical education including conferences, books, journals amongst others. This paper describes a novel method of delivering medical education using satellite transmission. This medium allows live medical education programmes to be broadcast to over 150 receiver sites in Europe. It also enables two-way live satellite links to be made between countries during the broadcast. EuroTransMed has an editorial board, in much the same way as a journal, which is representative of the differing medical societies in Europe. As the barriers between the various countries fall, EuroTransMed is an ideal medium to promote high quality, easily accessible, continuing medical education at a pan-European level.     

Read to weight and consider. Method of continuing education

Physicians seeking to add to their knowledge of medicine are advised to consider reading as a means of individual continuing education. The printed word, which has been extolled for centuries, can be read and reread at any pace and often leads down mind-broadening avenues of investigation.     

Nursing on-line for continuing education credit

BACKGROUND: The Internet was evaluated as a source of continuing education credit for RNs. METHOD: Using the search engines Alta Vista, Excite, Magellan, and Infoseek, 600 World Wide Web sites were reviewed for on-line programs that would lead to the receipt of a continuing education (CE) certificate of completion for a varying number of CE hours. RESULTS: Five sites provided CE programs online and one site used e-mail to deliver the program to personal computers. All sites offered certificates and were approved to offer continuing nursing education credit through a state board of nursing or through the agency sponsoring the Internet site. The CE hours were also approved by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate the Internet is a source of CE units (hours) for nurses that may be used to satisfy requirements of state boards of nursing. The sites are easily accessible and eliminate travel and great expenses. The Internet is a rich source of current health-related information not approved for CE units but pertinent to health care professionals.