Graduate distance education in nursing: Assessment under students' perspective

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the distance learning Graduate Nursing Management Program according to the students' perspective. Methods: This exploratory-descriptive study with a quantitative approach involved 484 students who had completed the nursing program. For the assessment we used an instrument divided into the following categories: access location, hours dedicated to the program, professors, mentors, students' expectations and general assessment. Association among numerical variables was done using a Pearson's chi-square test, and measurement reliability was assessed with the Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Results: Main results showed that students felt welcomed by mentors and professors and that two courses helped improve professional performance and development of competencies related to management. Conclusion: Courses were evaluated positively and were perceived as a useful tool for training of nurses aim to support transformation of management scenario of Brazilian nursing.