Introduction to the Online Nursing Education Best Practices Guide

INTRODUCTION: As online nursing education programs continue to increase to meet the demands of the growing market, nursing faculty are challenged to develop and deliver courses based on best practice principles. The Online Nursing Education Best Practices Guide (ONE Guide) builds on and extends the nationally recognized Quality Matters® program and serves as a roadmap guiding course development and delivery. The fundamental principle for success in online teaching is instructor presence; the teacher as a facilitator of learning is illustrated throughout the guide. An Online Instructor Checklist facilitates systematic implementation of best practice principles. METHODS: This article is based on a focused literature review and concept analysis resulting in a comprehensive guide for delivery of effective, quality nursing education through best practices in the online learning environment. A broad search of databases focused on articles during 2014 to 2019 was completed. The literature review included articles that examined over 1200 student perceptions of instructor presence in the online setting. CONCLUSION: Nurses carry a direct responsibility for the health and well-being of patients. Nursing quality education proves fundamental to the profession’s long-term outcomes. The ONE Guide and Online Instructor Checklist apply comprehensive, evidence-based teaching strategies to give a roadmap for success in the online teaching environment.