Learning needs assessment for registered nurses in two large acute care hospitals in Urban New Zealand.
BACKGROUND
Ongoing education for the nursing workforce is necessary to ensure currency of knowledge in order to enable evidence based client care. The cost of education is high to the organisation and the individual, and must therefore be cost-effective, relevant and appropriate. According to research, education for nurses is not always systematically planned and developed and often relies on the interest area and assessment of the nurse educators.


OBJECTIVE
To survey the learning needs of clinically based registered nurses within an acute care setting.


METHODS
An anonymous questionnaire was used to collect the data. Two groups completed the questionnaire: all eligible registered nurses in two acute care hospitals located in urban New Zealand and their senior nurses such as clinical nurse managers, specialists and educators.


RESULTS
The study found agreement on learning needs and also noted differing opinions between the Registered Nurses (RNs), and their senior RNs, RNs initially registered overseas and between levels of practice, on selection and ranking of learning needs.


CONCLUSIONS
This survey identified a number of high learning needs for RNs working within acute care settings. Differences in perception of learning needs for RNs, between the nurses themselves and the Senior RNs exist, as well as among sub groups of RNs. As a result, educators and managers are encouraged to collaborate to realise the opportunity which exists for the provision of education across specialty areas and to work with the different groups and the individual to ensure unique learning needs are met.
Dyson
Lyn
L
School of Nursing, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Hedgecock
Bronwyn
B
Tomkins
Sharon
S
Cooke
Gordon
G
D003625:Data Collection; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing / Q000193:education; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009520:New Zealand; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D000078329:Workforce