POTS, PANS, and PEARLs: The Nursing Profession's Rich History With Distance Education for a New Century of Nursing

Abstract

Background: Continuing education via distance education is expanding. A review of the media used to deliver classes in the past as well as future possibilities are presented. Method: The personal experience of the authors using these methods to present continuing nursing education is the basis for this article. Results: There is evidence that people learn via distance education as well as they do with traditional formats such as conferences and seminars. Although learners are enrolling in these types of courses for convenience, they enjoy the classes more when there is active involvement and participation. Conclusions: Continuing education using distance education strategies will expand, especially because computers are available in the homes of learners. A larger number of offerings will be available, and more learners will use these media to remain current professionally.

Evaluating an online occupational therapy community of practice and its role in supporting occupational therapy practice

“…It has been argued that information and communication technologies (ICT) should have a fundamental role in providing education and enhancing professional networks between health-care workers (Armstrong, Gessner & Cooper, 2000). In a survey of Western Australian occupational therapists' use of ICT, Taylor and Lee (2005) found ICT use to be high, with 62.3% of non-metropolitan based respondents using ICT as a method for maintaining professional development and 90.8% using ICT as a means of communicating with peers and health professionals.…”

Occupational therapists’ perception of usage of information and communication technology (ICT) in Western Australia and the association of availability of ICT on recruitment and retention of therapists working in rural areas

“…Barriers to the recruitment and retention of health professionals into rural and remote areas include professional and social isolation and lack of educational resources (Alexander & Hill, 1996; Mitchell, Robinson, McEvoy & Gates, 2001). Information and communication technology (ICT) has been advocated in the delivery of education and the development of professional networks between rural and city based practitioners (Armstrong, Gessner & Cooper, 2000; Kenny, 2000; Mitchell et al .). Providing access to ICT may be a significant means through which to enhance the recruitment and retention of occupational therapists to rural and remote locations through circumventing professional and social isolation, and the lack of educational opportunities inherent in working and living in rural and remote locations (Bent, 1999; Mitchell et al .…”

Strategies for teaching nursing research online

“…Distance and online courses for nurses have had successful outcomes (Armstrong et al. 2000; Cannon & Boswell 2001; Leasure et al.…”