This thesis describes a well-defined sequential program of education projects in the area of online nurse and health sciences education culminating in a model for online nurse education based on the concept of a shared database. The combination of published papers, theoretical chapters and a web-site are used to address fundamental issues relating to nurse education, research and practice in the context of current and future technological environments. In this way the thesis moves the discussion of online nurse education beyond the constraints of conventional institutional boundaries by exploring the application of evidence based practice to the development of nursing knowledge and education in a global context. / Nurse educators are facing a range of difficult challenges in the 21st century in an environment of rapid change in society, information technology and nursing practice. Nurse educators are confronted with the need to develop the clinical competence of graduates within the constraints of limited clinical and financial resources. In addition, educators need to adapt their teaching to deal with increasingly specialised content for a wide range of diverse professional occupations all broadly categorised as nursing. Furthermore, educators need to adapt to a rapidly changing practice environment where the practice may be outdated within five years. The thesis addresses this dilemma by carefully examining pathways of information supply via the Internet and proposing processes for the organisation and review of information using an evidence based practice framework. The thesis specifically addresses the limitations of the Internet, such as the varied quality and organisation of content, by proposing strategies for online content development. Such developments are framed in an international context addressing issues such as cross national and cross cultural information exchange. By using Internet communication to link research, education and practice, this thesis proposes that online nurse education be developed in a manner able to capture able to capture the benefits of future technological environments. / This thesis describes a model for online nurse education which is not prescriptive, but rather provides a range of strategies and initiatives able to be adapted to suit varied educational contexts, student learning requirements and future change. In this way, the author acknowledges the varied, fluid and evolving nature of online nurse education. Furthermore, this thesis examines the research, education and practice interface, proposing the use of Internet communication to fundamentally change the development, documentation and exchange of nursing knowledge. / The model described in this thesis addresses online nurse education form a global and national, rather than local perspective providing contrast to current online nurse education developments. While this thesis provides valuable direction for the future development of online nurse education, there are also major implications for other health professions, nursing practice and nursing research. / Thesis (PhDNursing)--University of South Australia, 2002.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/281298 |
| Creators | Gillham, David |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | copyright under review |
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