title: Continuing education needs assessment of acute care and long-term-care nurses in a Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was done to identify nurses' priorities for continued learning and to examine the priorities in relation to age, educational level, location in the organization, experience, position in the organization, and shift worked.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random sample of nurses at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center completed surveys consisting of 58 educational topics and demographic information. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, and Tukey's HSD method to identify differences within the various subgroups of nurses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 58 educational topics, 21 were determined to be high priority educational needs and were significantly correlated with one or more of the independent variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conducting a needs assessment can provide valuable information that will improve the delivery of high quality, relevant continuing education and improve staff satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Education Department, Carl T. Hayden Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Claflin
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease / Q000451:nursing; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001130:Arizona; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000451:nursing; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000193:education; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D009735:Nursing Homes; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D016730:Program Development; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires