Clinical nurses' perception of continuing professional education as a tool for quality service delivery in public hospitals Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

Continuing Formal Education for Nurses in Ghana: The Perception of Non-Professional Nurses

“…Continuing education is perceived by non-professional nurses as necessary and important to nursing practices (Baxter et al, 2013;Govranos & Newton, 2014;Nsemo et al, 2013). Non-professional nurses hold the perception that embarking on continuing education offers them the opportunity to acquire more knowledge and skills which will help them upgrade themselves in the profession (Osterman, Asselin, & Cullen, 2009: Saver et al 2015.…”

“…The desire to deliver quality health services to their clients in order for them to enjoy a shorter stay in the hospital and to avoid developing complications is another perception that non-professional nurses discerned that continuing formal education can provide (Lerner et al, 2010;Nsemo et al 2013;Richards & Potgieter, 2010). The non-professional nurses conceived that by engaging in continuing formal education, they would be abreast with contemporary nursing skills and techniques which they would, in turn, impart on t h e i r colleagues and nursing students (Nsemo et al 2013;Perfetto, 2015;Ni et al, 2014;Richards & Potgieter, 2010).…”

“…The non-professional nurses conceived that by engaging in continuing formal education, they would be abreast with contemporary nursing skills and techniques which they would, in turn, impart on t h e i r colleagues and nursing students (Nsemo et al 2013;Perfetto, 2015;Ni et al, 2014;Richards & Potgieter, 2010). This perception is paramount as most non-professional nurses' work in remote villages where there are an inadequate n u m b e r o f nurses.…”

“…These findings were confirmed by Sarver, Cichra and Kline (2015), who posited that nurses perceived engaging in continuing education as a means of increasing their opportunities to get jobs, expanding their knowledge and gaining personal satisfaction. Nurses perceive engaging in continuing education as valuable and of great importance, as the knowledge that they obtain from school enhances their professional skills and competencies (Baxter et al, 2013;Govranos & Newton, 2014;Ni et al, 2014;Nsemo et al, 2013). Continuing education is also perceived by t h e nurses as b ein g beneficial to their personal and professional growth, as well as augmenting the quality of care delivered to patients (Richards & Potgieter, 2010).…”

“…Nurses perceive furthering their education as a means to progressing on the pathway of the nursing profession, fulfilling their dreams as nurses, maintaining their professional status, refreshing their perspectives about the profession and enhancing their social status and self-esteem (Nsemo et al, 2013;Perfetto, 2015).…”