Just-in-time training: A strategy to support perioperative nurses’ continued professional education

Abstract

Continued professional education (CPE) is essential for perioperative nurse competency maintenance. Yet, due to the fundamental nature of the perioperative work environment, with its seemingly endless technological advances and limited access to CPE resources, such as time and funding, accessing competency maintenance activities can prove a challenge. Given the potential for significant negative impacts on patients, organizations, employers, educators, and perioperative nurses, perioperative leaders and nurses must work collaboratively to identify a strategy capable of surmounting the underlying challenges. The just-in-time training (JiTT) pedagogical approach respects adult learning principles and possesses characteristics that are well suited to overcoming recognized barriers. As such, the implementation of JiTT is recommended, as it is an effective strategy to support perioperative nurses’ continued professional education and, in turn, improve patient outcomes.