Barriers and Enablers to Nurses' Engagement With Continuing Professional Development: A Survey

Abstract

Background: Continuing professional development (CPD) is perceived as a pivotal component of building and maintaining nursing skill and capacity. Exploring motivators for CPD engagement can aid program adaptation and improvement. The goal of this study was to survey the barriers, enablers, and changes of Australian RNs' engagement with CPD in general during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. An additional goal was to understand factors influencing the interest of participants to engage with programs focused on care for people with intellectual disability and/or autism. Method: This study was a cross-sectional exploratory survey. Results: Most of the sample had engaged with CPD in the previous 12 months, and the most reported topics were related to COVID-19. Sixty percent of nurses saw a change in volume of CPD. Younger nurses, with fewer years of experience, and practicing in major cities, were significantly more likely to report less CPD. Conclusion: It is pivotal that the design and promotion of CPD curricula consider the motivators and barriers for nurses' engagement with them. [ J Contin Educ Nurs. 2023;54(9):405–412.]