Creating an Online Professional Writing Course for Mid- to Late-Career Nurses

This paper presents the results of a project to develop an online professional writing course for mid- to late-career nurses enrolled in an online bachelor’s degree completion program. Course design took into account principles of adult learning theories and attempted to provide an online learning experience that promoted self-reflection as well as connections between course material/assignments and students’ prior experience. Additionally, students were provided with targeted discussion prompts to assist in drawing connections between course material and workplace practice. Although students expressed initial concerns over the online learning environment, they eventually evaluated the course as a positive experience, as well as reporting direct connections between course material and its influence on their workplace practice.