Northeastern Ontario registered nurses’ perceptions of E-learning

Abstract

Nurses face challenges in meeting their continuing education needs. E-learning can help to overcome these barriers and has become a common method of nursing continuing education. An integrative literature review found that e-learning benefits nurses’ learning, patient care, and the hospital organization in different international contexts. E-learning has unique barriers, areas for improvement, and additional research is needed in the Northeastern Ontario context. An interpretive description qualitative study explored the perceptions of ten Northeastern Ontario registered nurses about e-learning. The aim was to understand this phenomenon and inform continuing education practices. Bridging the Gap was the overarching theme, providing a rich description of how nurses perceived e-learning as a continuing educational method. The overarching theme was supported by the subthemes: Unsatisfactory Learning Experiences, Meaningful Learning Experiences, and Enhancing Learning Experiences. These findings could inform future e-learning continuing education and support patient care.