Original Article

Continuing Education in Informatics Among Registered Nurses in the United States in 2000

Manal Kleib, RN, MSN, MBA; Anne E. Sales, RN, MN, PhD; Isac Lima, BA; Melba Andrea-Baylon, MSPH; Amy Beaith, MISt

  • The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing
  • July 2010 - Volume 41 · Issue 7: 329-336
  • DOI: 10.3928/00220124-20100503-08
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Abstract

Background:

Continuing education is one method for acquiring competency in informatics among nurses. However, little is known about nurses’ participation in continuing education in informatics and the factors or characteristics that motivate them to pursue this type of education. This article identifies the proportion and characteristics of U.S. registered nurses reporting continuing education in informatics in 2000.

Methods:

A secondary data analysis was conducted with data from the National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses. More than 25,000 nurses responded to this survey in 2000. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the association of reported continuing education in informatics with demographic, educational, and other characteristics of respondents to the survey.

Results:

Of the respondents, 21% reported continuing education in informatics in the year before the survey. The probability of continuing education in informatics increased with Internet access and decreased for nurses working outside hospitals or providing direct patient care.

Conclusion:

Relatively low proportions of registered nurses report continuing education in informatics, but some opportunities exist to increase rates.

AUTHORS

Ms. Kleib is Faculty Lecturer and doctoral student, Dr. Sales is Professor, Mr. Lima is data analyst, Ms. Andrea-Baylon is data analyst, and Ms. Beaith is research assistant, Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

The authors disclose that they have no significant financial interests in any product or class of products discussed directly or indirectly in this activity, including research support.

Presented as a poster at the AMIA Annual Symposium, November 14–18, 2009, San Francisco, California.

Address correspondence to Anne E. Sales, RN, MN, PhD, Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, 7-80 University Terrace Building, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2T4. E-mail: manal.kleib@ualberta.ca

Received: April 8, 2009
Accepted: September 30, 2009
Posted Online: May 7, 2010

doi: 10.3928/00220124-20100503-08

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