Outcome Evaluation of a Clinical Nurse Specialist Continuing Education Pilot Program: An Intervention Study With Three Repeated Measures

BMC Nursing (10/23/2025) Wright, Mea; Kvist, Tarja; Mikkonen, Santtu; et al.

A recent study examined the impact of a continuing education program on nurses' perceived practice outcomes and the barriers they face. The pilot intervention study used a web-based survey with 35 Finnish nurses in an intervention group and 44 in a control group. The study used an intervention model that involved three repeated measures to evaluate the effectiveness of the CNS continuing education program. Data were collected pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at 1-year follow-up. The researchers found no statistically significant improvement in perceived practice outcomes. However, gender and timing of measurement were linked to reductions in organizational and interpersonal barriers, and gender was also linked to workflow-related barriers. Notably, clinical nurse specialist competencies were positively associated with better practice outcomes, while higher job satisfaction correlated with increased awareness of practice barriers. The findings underscore the need to address systemic challenges and promote supportive work environments for nurses, according to the study authors.

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