ATTITUDES ABOUT CONTINUING EDUCATION AND PROGRAM PARTICIPATION AMONG KANSAS LONG-TERM CARE REGISTERED NURSES (NURSE EDUCATION).
Contributors: Kansas State University.
Published: 1993
Number of pages: 145
Subjects: Education, Adult and Continuing.; Health Sciences, Nursing.; Psychology, Behavioral.
Description: A doctoral study was conducted to determine if the long-term care (LTC) registered nurses' (RNs) perceived professional status affected their attitude toward continuing nursing education (CNE) and mandatory continuing nursing education (MCNE). All RNs who were practicing in LTC facilities in Kansas were chosen as subjects. The research population was 323 Kansas LTC RNs. The study examined the relationships and differences between demographic data obtained from RNs practicing in Kansas LTC facilities and their attitudes toward CNE, MCNE, and their perceived professional status. It was hypothesized that basic nursing education, advanced academic degree, and level of practice responsibility would have a significantly more positive effect toward CNE, MCNE, and perceived professional status. It was further hypothesized that age, size of facility, rural (versus urban) residency, length of employment in LTC, family status, and cost of CNE and MCNE would provide a significant negative correlation with attitude toward CNE, MCNE, and perceived professional status.

The questionnaire used in this study elicited the following information: (1) demographic information; (2) attitudes toward CNE, which utilized the "Adult Attitudes Toward Continuing Education Scale" (AACES), developed by Hayes and Darkenwald; (3) attitudes toward MCNE, which utilized "Nursing Homes Continuing Education Needs and Activities, Part II," developed by Cox; and (4) perceived professional status, which utilized an adaptation of Rosenberg's "Self-Esteem Scale.".

Frequency and percentage analyses were computed on all demographic data. Data was analyzed using Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient, analysis of variance, and the Tukey test for pairwise comparisons.

The study concluded that, with the advancement of the LTC RNs' advanced academic education, the attitude Professional Status improved. The variables of age, length of LTC employment and rural (versus urban) residence revealed some significant differences with CNE and MCNE.

The majority of LTC RNs: were married with no children at home; were diploma prepared without further academic degrees; were RNs for 11 years but have practiced LTC for three years or less; attended the minimal number of required contact hours; selected CNE by topics for which the employer paid; and traveled 50 miles or less for attendance. It was also concluded that the LTC RNs had accepted CNE and MCNE.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-02, Section: A, page: 0403.

Thesis (PH.D.)--KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY, 1993.

School code: 0100.