Abstract:
Abstract
The study was undertaken to identify what motivates registered nurses to participate
in continuing education activities. The primary questions were whether basic nursing
education, employment status, clinical area, and position, as well as readiness for selfdirected
learning influenced Canadian nurses' motivational orientations when deciding to
participate in continuing education activities. Other individual differences (e.g., age)
were also examined. The sample included 142 registered nurses employed at an urban
community hospital. Three instruments were used for data collection: the Education
Participation Scale, the Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale, and a nursing survey
consisting of demographic questions. Basic nursing education and employment status
did not effect motivational orientation or self-directed learning readiness. Clinical area
and level of position significantly influenced nurses' decisions to participate in continuing
education activities. Motivational orientation had a significant relationship with selfdirected
learning readiness. Implications for practice as a result of this study involves
program planning and delivery. The identification of the motivational orientations of
participants may assist in the development and delivery of continuing education
programs that are beneficial, relevant, and address the identified learning needs of
participants. Implications for future research also exist in relation to studying different
groups of nurses, for example, registered nursing assistants, and investigating related
issues, for example, what are the deterrents to participation in continuing education?
