A Group of Nurses Experience Open Learning: Exploring the impact

This exploration of an open learning course, and its impact upon a small group of nurses, identifies motivation as a key factor. The means by which this is initiated, driven, sustained and internalised are elucidated. Outcomes such as changing attitudes towards clinical practice, further study intentions and life events in general are discussed and compared to the characteristics of lifelong learners ( ENB, Creating Lifelong Learners , Luton: Chilton Press, 1994). Of students on the course, 98% are female, and most are returning to education after a period of many years in clinical practice, without formal study requirements or opportunities.