Advantages and defects of E-Learning in Nursing

Use of e-learning in education is rapidly growing and is considered as a new way to provide public education. Regarding provision of health care, e-learning has provided the opportunity for flexible, convenient and interactive knowledge as well as professional care. This study investigates advantages and disadvantages of this method as to curriculum of nurses.

This review article is based on papers published in such databases as Ebesco, Elsevior, PUBMED of the years 2001- 2013.

As a guiding and self-motivating method, E-learning provides students, educators, nursing administrators and educational institutions with many benefits. In many studies regarding nursing, the efficacy of e-learning in nursing education has been discussed. Despite positive features of e-learning, aspect of individual study in this method of learning has been criticized and this method has not find any place in theoretical and clinical nursing education yet. Discussion and

Health institutions should review their training courses and reconstruct them in order to achieve organizational goals, improve knowledge and self-efficacy of members. They must use novel educational methods and invest in nontraditional forms of education along with using traditional teaching methods. In this regard, E-learning is a leading method.