examination of the relationship between nurses' learning preferences and practices

The American Nurses Association supports professional continuing education, of which one part is self-directed learning, as essential for maintaining competency in nursing practice and safety of the consumers of health care. The increasing complexities of nursing practice demand that nurses be continuous life-long learners. Nurses licensed in the State of Florida are mandated to earn professional continuing education credit as a condition of relicensure. Self-directed learning is one option for earning professional continuing education credit. This study investigated readiness for self-directed learning among Florida nurses (registered nurses and licensed practical nurses) using Guglielmino's Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale (SDLRS) and several variables including educational preparation, position, practice specialty, and use of self-directed learning projects as a method of earning professional continuing education credit. This study also sought to determine professional continuing education preferences among the nurses, including preferred method of learning for earning professional continuing education credit, influences on choice of continuing education offering, number of hours of professional continuing education completed in various learning activities, and awareness of the option of submitting self-directed learning projects to the Florida Board of Nursing for Credit. Six central research questions were posed. Findings included: (1) a significant difference of SDLRS scores between registered nurses and licensed practical nurses in Florida; (2) no significant difference between the mean SDLRS scores among registered nurses having different levels of education, and (3) lack of significant relationship between preference for self-directed learning as a means of learning for earning professional continuing education credit and SDLRS scores. It appears likely that this outcome is related to the finding that 89% of the respondents were unaware of the option of earning professional continuing education credit through self-directed learning. Recommendations for further research include: (1) replication of this study with a revised preference for professional continuing education survey and a larger sample, (2) exploration of the reasons for higher SDLRS scores among bachelor of science prepared nurses, (3) determination of the frequency, quality, and quantity of practice-related self-directed learning, and (4) development of strategies to publicize the option of self-directed learning for professional education as described by the Florida Board of Nursing.