Continuing education in informatics among registered nurses in the United States in 2000

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. © SLACK Incorporated.