Continuing education in neuroscience nursing

Since its inception in 1968 the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (AANN) has devoted the majority of its energy and resources to establishing and maintaining excellence in continuing education (CE). Building and sustaining a program for CE is both challenging and rewarding. AANN, accredited as a provider and approver of CE in nursing by the American Nurses' Association, has awarded hundreds of contact hours to individuals and AANN chapters. It now has the authority to approve CE for any organization or individual meeting specific criteria. In order to promote ongoing growth of its CE program, and thus the knowledge of nurses caring for neuroscience patients, AANN encourages groups and individuals to provide CE and offers this article as assistance. The article defines terms, addresses components of development of CE and offers the opportunity to earn contact hours.     

Continuing nursing education: some issues

In nursing, a commitment to continuing education appears to be a relatively new concept. There have always been nurses who are continuing learners throughout their professional lives. Too often, this is incidental, rather than planned. There appears to be a need to re-examine current approach in continuing nursing education.     

Continuing nursing education: a perspective

This article takes a renewed look at continuing education (CE) within the discipline of nursing. Increasing complexity in the personal, professional, and social environments in which nursing is practiced, as well as changes in the present educational foundation of nurses all signal a need for a broader, more comprehensive concept of the content and process of CE. The continuing professional learning process (CPLP) is presented as a beginning attempt to view nursing CE from a more comprehensive perspective. The CPLP is a multifaceted, helical, on-going process of learning, patterned and directed by the learner. The CPLP, which incorporates the multiple contexts of nursing and nursing practice, and which may encompass learning of an informal, formal, or academic nature, has as its end the enhancement of the professional and the profession.