Investigation and Analysis of Continuing Nursing Education Status and Needs of In-Service Nurses in Tibet

Objective: To investigate and analyze the current status of continuing nursing education (CNE) of in-service nurses in Tibet and their demand for continuing education. Methods: 663 active nurses in Tibet were taken as the research objects, and the self-developed questionnaire was used to investigate the current status and needs of CNE, and the correlation between the CNE needs of active nurses and their personal conditions was analyzed. Results: This study shows that 65.61% (435/663) of active nurses have not participated in any CNE, and 91.86% (609/663) of active nurses believe that they need to participate in CNE. The problems faced by active nurses in participating in CNE include funding restrictions, time limitation and ability limitation. Logistic stepwise regression analysis reveals that the age of active nurses and working years of nurses are negatively correlated with the funding restrictions for participating in CNE (P < 0.05). It is relatively more difficult for young nurses with less working experience to obtain funding for participating in CNE. Moreover, there is a negative correlation between age, educational level and the ability of nurses to participate in CNE (P < 0.05). Younger nurses with lower educational level are more difficult to participate in CNE due to personal ability. There is a positive correlation between the length of working experience and the time limitation faced to participate in CNE (P < 0.05). Senior nurses are too busy with their work to participate in CNE due to limited time. Conclusion: The problems faced by active nurses in Tibet in participating in CNE come from funding, time and ability. Young nurses with limited working experience cannot participate in CNE resulting from limited ability and funds; while senior nurses are mainly restricted by time. It is recommended that hospitals and nursing management in Tibet should solve these problems faced by nurses in participating in CNE by implementing a flexible scheduling system, and providing funding or implementing an incentive system, to enhance the confidence of active nurses in participating in CNE.