Continuing education opportunities and concerns for hospital bedside RNs in the Hamilton to Toronto area were described. A questionnaire of 35 questions was distributed to 186 bedside RNs in the selected area. A response rate of 74% was received. A structured interview of 10 RN employers who employ hospital bedside RNs was performed. The RNs' participation rate in continuing education in hospitals, colleges, and universities was examined. The variables used for the examination were age, marital status, being a parent, educational background, area of specialization, and the number of years in the profession. RNs' satisfaction with continuing educational offerings in hospitals, colleges, and universities was explored. The distribution of RNs' age group in this study is not dramatically different from the age group of RNs in general hospitals in Ontario, as reported by the College of Nurses of Ontario. This research shows that 82.5% of RNs are in the 30-54 year age group. Carp, A., Peterson, R., and Roelfs, P. (1974), Cross, K. P. (1981), Livingstone, D. W., Hart, D. J., and Daniel, L. E. (1987), and Waniewicz, I. (1976) reported that participation rates in adult education decrease with increased age. This study however, shows that there were no statistical significant differences to RNs' participation in continuing education in terms of their ages or being a parent. Marital status was an influence in that single RNs participated more than married RNs. There were statistically significant differences noted between RNs who graduated from hospitals, colleges and universities, as well as in the number of years employed in the nursing profession.

Although only 16% of the RNs work in the critical care areas of hospitals, these nurses participated most, while 21% of RNs work with the geriatric patient population and participated least in continuing educational activities. Seventy-three percent of the RNs cited shiftwork as a deterrent to continuing their education, while 50% cited cost and 18% cited geographic location. The incentives cited for participating in continuing education were equally distributed: flexible hours (55%) and increase in salary upon completion of degree (55%).