title: The Pyramid Model: an integrated approach for evaluating continuing education programs and outcomes.
abstract: Recent mergers and downsizing of health care agencies have made resources for continuing education (CE) increasingly scarce. Nurse educators must demonstrate the effectiveness and sustainability of CE programs and establish the link between nursing professionalism and positive patient outcomes. The Pyramid Evaluation Model expands and enhances previous evaluation frameworks. Simple steps are outlined to evaluate CE programs and outcomes systematically and comprehensively through an impact model that examines goals, reviews program design, monitors program implementation, assesses outcomes and impact, and analyzes efficiency.
authors.affiliation: Rio Grande Valley Continuing Education Project, University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center, School of Nursing, Houston 77030, USA.
authors.forename: V E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Sherwood
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006801:Humans; D017146:Models, Organizational; D015402:Nursing Education Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*