Deliberations of Nursing Academics towards Distance Education

Abstract

Introduction: There are different ways of upgrading knowledge and competency among the learners, distance education is believed to be a valid method for enhancing competencies.

Methods: In order to assess the practicability in terms of availability of information communication technology as well as commitments of the learners in conducting distance education, a feasibility study was conducted in three nursing institutes of Institute of Medicine, which were selected purposively. For data collection structured instrument was used for administrators and self-administer semi-structured questionnaire for nursing academicians.

Results: It was revealed that all the campus administrators were ready to take part in this new initiative and willing to collaborate during implementation of the project. Cent percent of nursing academicians were enthusiastic to take part in this project, among them 95% were interested in learning proposal writing for qualitative study. Eighty percent of them had computer along with Internet facilities at their work place, and 80% had their own computer along with internet facilities at work place, while only 50% had their own computer. However, 66% of them did not have advance knowledge in handling multi-medias and computer skills.

Conclusion: Administrators as well nursing academicians are willing to collaborate in this distance education project, and nursing academicians are enthusiastic in developing competencies in conducting qualitative research via distance education on their own leisure time without hampering in their scheduled activities.