This fall, NPACE conducted a survey of approximately 116,000 nurse practitioners (NPs) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to identify gaps of knowledge, skill, and practice. A total of 1,666 NPs responded on their learning needs and preferred modalities. This critical information will guide NPACE as we target educational programming that meets defined practice gaps.

Despite the barriers resulting from COVID, 615 respondents attended an NPACE virtual CE activity this past year:

• 82% reported receiving a positive return secondary to their increased knowledge, skills, or patient outcomes,
• 77% reported that they changed their practice due to an increase of knowledge gained from the activity,
• 63% reported an increase in their quality outcome measures because of the activity.

 

Learning Environment

• NPACE has been heralded for peer gatherings that bring NPs from diverse clinical settings together with the nation’s top primary care and pharmacology speakers in relaxed, beautiful resort locations. Restricted from gathering since 2019, we were not surprised to learn that 75% of respondents reported that in-person education was their first choice followed by online/on-demand second and live virtual conferences trailing third. Webinars and podcasts were ranked the lowest of the choices.

 

Continuing Education Budget

• The availability of CE reimbursement from employers was across the board with 34% reporting allowed budgets of over $1,500 while 26% reported no budget at all.

 

Continuing Education Topics of Interest

• Pharmaceutical therapies was the standout topic of interest, followed closely by practice guidelines, and specific disease management. Diagnostic Approaches along with Therapeutic and Management Approaches followed underlining gaps in clinical practice. Legislation or regulatory practice updates was ranked lowest of the topic choices. About 20% of respondents agreed that hands-on workshops and those focused on wellness would be of interest.

 

Professional Education Topics

• When asked to choose five professional education topics that would meet needs, pharmacology topped the charts and was chosen by 62% of respondents. Cardiovascular medicine and endocrinology followed with dermatology, mental health, women’s health, pain management and others ranked behind. Men’s health was the topic that survey participants felt would least enhance their knowledge.

 

Workshops

• Suturing workshops were the most desired, though workshops were generally only selected by 20% of respondents as a milieu. Imaging and EKG interpretation were also identified by a large percentage.