Nursing professional development practitioners are encouraged to consider incorporating preferred learning styles into professional development programs. However, conclusive evidence about preferred learning styles does not exist. This study describes the preferred learning styles of nursing staff. Results showed that learning style preferences existed and were correlated with satisfaction, years of experience, and gender. The results can be used to plan and deliver professional development opportunities that are engaging and promote retention of learning.
Kara Mangold, DNP, MS, RN-BC, CCTN, CNE, is Assistant Professor and Nursing Education Specialist, Department of Nursing, Mayo Clinic Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona.
Katie L. Kunze, PhD, is Biostatistician I, Department of Biostatistics, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona.
Michelle M. Quinonez, MSN, OCN, is Instructor and Nursing Education Specialist, Department of Nursing, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona.
Lorna M. Taylor, MS, RN, is Nursing Education Specialist, Department of Nursing, Mayo Clinic Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona.
Ashley Tenison, MSN, CMSRN, is Nursing Education Specialist, Department of Nursing, Mayo Clinic Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona.
Study data were collected and managed using REDCap electronic data capture tools hosted at Mayo Clinic. REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) is a secure, web-based application designed to support data capture for research studies, providing (a) an intuitive interface for validated data entry, (b) audit trails for tracking data manipulation and export procedures, (c) automated export procedures for seamless data downloads to common statistical packages, and (d) procedures for importing data from external sources.
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
This project was supported by Grant UL1 TR002377 from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH. Support for this research study was also provided by the Anne L. Bronfman Mayo Clinic in Arizona Nursing Excellence Fund.
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE: Kara Mangold, Department of Nursing, Mayo Clinic Hospital, 5777 E Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85044 (e-mail: mangold.kara@mayo.edu).
