Experiences Of Professional Nurses With Continuing Professional Education In The Greater Accra Region, Ghana

ABSTRACT Continuing professional education is indispensable to the nursing profession. Rapid changes in health care delivery requires that nurses participate in continuing professional education in order to provide better care to patients. Nurses have the opportunity to participate in both formal and informal continuing professional education. The objective of the study was to explore the experiences of registered nurses with continuing professional education using the Cross chain of response model. The qualitative descriptive design was used. Participants in the study were selected using purposive sampling. Semi-structured interview guide was used to explore the experiences of participants. Analysis of data was done using thematic content analysis. The study was guided by four themes which were perception of continuing professional education, motivation to seek continuing professional education, barriers to continuing professional education and strategies to enhance participation in continuing professional education. The findings of the study indicate that nurses have a positive perception of continuing professional education. Participants were motivated by factors such as acquiring knowledge and skills, upgrading, renewal of professional lincence and social networking. Barriers to continuing professional education such as family responsibilities, high cost of fees, rigid schedules were identified by participants. Participants also suggested strategies such as review of policy on study leave, health facility strategies, nursing administration strategies and financial support. The recommendations of the study are continuing professional education should be included in the basic training of student nurses so as to sensitize students about the need to continue learning after basic training. All bodies responsible for organizing continuing professional education for professional nurses should do a thorough needs assessment to aid them in designing appropriate programs that will promote continuing professional education for nurses.