Factors influencing staff nurse attendance at continuing education programs

This descriptive research study was designed to investigate possible relationships between head nurse and staff nurse attitudes toward continuing education (CE), head nurse and staff nurse attendance at CE programs, and staff nurse perceptions of head nurse attitudes toward CE. Selected demographic differences as they relate to CE attitudes and attendance were also examined. The theoretical framework included theories from nursing, the behavioral sciences and adult education. A convenience sample of ninety-six staff nurses and twenty-five head nurses from a 602 bed university-affiliated hospital in the southeastern United States provided demographic data and responded to two CE attitude scales from Grobe's 1977 Nurses' Self-Description Scale. Pearson's r was used to examine the correlations among the variables; t test and ANOVA were used to study various demographic differences. Findings of significance included a moderately positive correlation between (1) staff nurse attitudes toward CE and staff nurse attendance at CE programs; (2) the number of required CE programs attended by head nurses and staff nurses; and (3) staff nurse perceptions of head nurse attitudes toward CE and head nurse self-reported attitudes. A moderately negative correlation was found between staff nurse perception of head nurse attitudes toward CE and staff nurse attendance at CE programs. The few significant differences among demographic variables are also reported. Implications for further research include a need to examine methods to increase positive attitudes among staff nurses toward CE. Further studies should also be undertaken in other settings to determine if staff nurses in other institutions are low CE attenders despite staff nurse recognition of head nurses' highly positive attitudes toward CE.