title: Purpose, objectives, and outcome: tying the pieces together.
abstract: The fundamental intent of continuing nursing education is to improve the professional practice of nursing and the care provided to patients. Using a thoughtful process for developing a purpose and objectives for an activity and identifying the desired outcome(s) helps to ensure that the learning activity will be valuable for learners and achieve desired results.
authors.affiliation: Montana Nurses Association, Helena, Montana, USA. pdickerson@aol.com
authors.forename: Pamela S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Dickerson
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chappell
mesh_terms: D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D017145:Models, Educational; D016294:Models, Nursing