title: Educational opportunities for experienced staff: do they make a difference?
abstract: This study evaluates the impact of educational programs, such as Advanced Burn Life Support (ABLS), on the knowledge base of experienced burn nurses. A convenience sample of six clinical experts within a 21-bed southeastern burn center who had never taken ABLS participated. The quantitative findings display a high level of value and an increase in knowledge base. The results of this study suggest that nurses with high levels of experience will have an increase in knowledge and express value in continuing education curricula. Consequently, this study supports the necessity of educational programs for nurses with significant specialized experience.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Practice, Education and Research, University of North Carolina Hospitals, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA. ewolak@unch.unc.edu
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wolak
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Klish
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Bruce A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Cairns
mesh_terms: D002056:Burns / Q000628:therapy*; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008020:Life Support Care; D009657:North Carolina; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013041:Specialties, Nursing / Q000193:education*