In 1985, the American Nurses Association stated that every nurse is responsible for maintaining competency by keeping knowledge and skills current.1 The Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations further requires that nurses meet minimum educational requirements and verify this knowledge through competency-based assessments and actual performance in the nurses’ environment.2–,5 The escalation of the shortage of nurses and cost constraints create challenges for nurse educators to provide the necessary education and monitor competence. According to estimates, what a nurse knows today will be outdated in 2 to 5 years.6– 8 Educators must seek alternative methods to provide initial and ongoing education that is efficient and cost-effective and supports the development and documentation of nurses’ competence. In this article, I describe the advantages and challenges of online learning as a means to enhance professional development and clinical knowledge.

Competence is defined as having the necessary...

You do not currently have access to this content.