Exploring Nurse Practitioner Students’ Perceptions of a Sleep e-Learning Program

Abstract

AIM The aim of this study was to explore nurse practitioner (NP) students’ perceptions of a sleep e-learning program. BACKGROUND Sleep assessment is uncommon as nursing curricula lack sleep education. By preparing NPs to conduct sleep assessment and screening and understand basic sleep diagnostics, sleep health is more likely to be part of the differential diagnosis. METHOD The study is a qualitative descriptive study utilizing two focus groups. A directed content analysis, guided by the Kirkpatrick model, was used for analysis. RESULTS Twenty-four students participated in focus groups. Two overarching themes emerged: perceptions of course design and content. Asynchronous, case-based scenarios and quizzes were favorable. Students spoke of content relevance to themselves and patients and intentions to adopt sleep assessment practices. CONCLUSION NP students embraced sleep education and declared intention to apply learned skills in practice. This study highlights the feasibility of increasing curricular exposure to sleep education and ensuring NPs have skills to recognize implications of poor and disordered sleep in patients.