With the unpredictable nature of the healthcare industry, maintaining mandatory training requirements can be a demanding task. But what if there was a solution that seamlessly adapted to these challenges? Enter eLearning, a modern-day training solution within the healthcare industry. Keep reading to explore how eLearning facilitates autonomous and scenario-based training.
Autonomous Learning
With nurse vacancy rates sitting close to 10% within the UK National Health Service (NHS) and across the USA, it’s evident that traditional training methods are no longer sustainable. eLearning offers the flexibility to complete training autonomously, breaking the barrier between training and location. This online environment not only lessens the strain caused by staff shortages, but can foster a collaborative learning environment, where knowledge transfer is made easy.
“The eLearning industry has a really good online community feel about it” – Matt Richardson
Alongside this, Learning Management Systems enable progress to be monitored remotely; tracking adoption rates, providing constant feedback and adapting courses based on results. Dashboards are further features used to send notifications and deadlines to trainees, ensuring standards are met within desired timelines. On top of this, online courses have been found to increase retention rates up to 60% more than traditional approaches. Learn more about Matt’s industry insights here:
NHS Lothian has discovered the power of eLearning through its Corporate Induction Program. This eLearning course improves efficiencies in staff onboarding processes as trainees can complete training autonomously, without the need for constant supervision. Efficient and effective!
Scenario-Based Practical Training
The learning journey involves making mistakes and learning from them. However, gaining this experience can be challenging due to the nature of healthcare work. eLearning offers virtual recreations of lifelike emergencies, where trainees can make mistakes and learn in a safe environment before facing them in practice. These scenarios help to develop users’ critical thinking abilities, a necessary skill within these high-pressure environments.
“It’s good to have as close to real world experience as people can get” – Matt Richardson
Scenario-based eLearning has been used to enhance genetics training within the healthcare industry. With graphics featuring a virtual “chocolate monster”, trainees could visually and safely trial experiments, taking learning to a new level of practicality (Johnson, 2020).
Elevating Healthcare Training
Autonomous learning and scenario-based materials are highly utilized and effective eLearning solutions. A growing number of healthcare professionals have discovered the power of eLearning. Will you be next?
Resources Used:
- “The vacancy rate of the NHS workforce in England stood at 8.9 percent overall and over ten percent among nurses” – https://www.statista.com/topics/9575/nhs-staff-shortage/#topicOverview
- “In 2023, three quarters of hospitals in the U.S. reported a registered nurse vacancy rate higher than ten percent” – https://www.statista.com/statistics/1251419/vacancy-rate-of-registered-nurses-in-hospitals-in-the-united-states/
- “Students retain 25%-60% more through online courses” – https://www.luisazhou.com/blog/elearning-statistics/
- NHS Lothian Corporate Induction Program – https://staff.nhslothian.scot/induction/
- Scenario-based training: “The scenario-based module was based on a fictitious “chocolate monster” to illustrate mutations and isolate new mutant animals by conducting breeding experiments”. (Johnson, 2020) – https://www.researchgate.net/publication/355209830_Examining_the_Effect_of_Scenario-based_e-learning_and_Feedback_Types_on_Learning_Outcomes_and_Motivation