WebQuests

Abstract

The nursing shortage, coupled with growing case loads, limits the available time for nurses in home care to attend continuing professional education programs necessary to keep abreast of the changes in nursing practice and enhance their clinical competency. The purpose of this case study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the WebQuest, a Web-based inquiry-oriented model congruent with the pedagogical approaches and cognitive activities commonly used with nursing education, in providing continuing education content to nurses in a mid-sized home health care agency. A convenience sample of registered nurse case managers completed a researcher-designed WebQuest, modified for independent learning, on diabetes education utilizing their personal computers from home. WebQuests proved to be an innovative and creative approach to provide new information, promote higher level thinking skills, and develop nurses' confidence with computer technology.