Posted by Jonathan on February 25, 1998 at 22:11:13:
Question number 1. I find this question quite interesting. I haven't looked at the other responses because I want to be able to give my reasoning and rational without being influenced from others. I strongly feel that the cost is the responsibility of the health care professional. It is our license and our education. I know that the hospital benefits from the fact that I am licensed, but I also benefit from that fact by a higher salary than many other professionals. I certainly want to be a R.N. and therefore can be responsible for my own C.E.U.'s. Question 2. I prefer programs that are local due to the fact that cost is usually a factor with me. It is quite expensive to go to out of town inservices due to cost of hotels, registration fees, car travel expenses, etc. Cost always figures into my plans. I also like programs that are pertinent to what my career demands. I am not interested in taking programs just to take them. I want them to be factual and worthwhile. I prefer programs that are shorter in lenghth than other 8 hours programs. I find that my attention span is quite short after 4-6 hours. I also prefer programs that allows for hand on experiences. I learn much better that way. Question 3. Quite frankly, on principal I am opposed to mandatory education. I believe that as professional adults we need to maintain our educational level. Now having said that, I have to say I am in favored of mandatory education. I have seen to many professionals who are not in the job to continue to learn, but who are in the job to earn a paycheck. I am afraid that without the requirement for the education, many people would not participate in such programs and would not continue their education.