<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE article PUBLIC "-//NLM//DTD JATS (Z39.96) Journal Publishing DTD v1.2 20190208//EN"
  "https://jats.nlm.nih.gov/publishing/1.2/JATS-journalpublishing1.dtd">
<article xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"
         xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"
         article-type="research-article"
         dtd-version="1.2">

  <!-- ============================================================ FRONT -->
  <front>
    <journal-meta>
      <journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">IJLTEMAS</journal-id>
      <journal-title-group>
        <journal-title>International Journal of Latest Technology in Engineering, Management &amp; Applied Science (IJLTEMAS)</journal-title>
        <abbrev-journal-title abbrev-type="publisher">IJLTEMAS</abbrev-journal-title>
      </journal-title-group>
      <issn pub-type="epub">2278-2540</issn>
      <publisher>
        <publisher-name>IJLTEMAS</publisher-name>
      </publisher>
    </journal-meta>

    <article-meta>
      <!-- IDs -->
      <article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">519</article-id>
            <article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.51583/IJLTEMAS.2026.150900168</article-id>
      
      <!-- Categories -->
            <article-categories>
        <subj-group subj-group-type="heading">
          <subject>Nursing</subject>
        </subj-group>
      </article-categories>
      
      <!-- Title -->
      <title-group>
        <article-title>Assessing Nurses’ Perceptions of Pursuing Higher Education While Working</article-title>
      </title-group>

      <!-- Authors -->
      <contrib-group>
                <contrib contrib-type="author">
                    <name>
            <surname>Haridas</surname>
            <given-names>Anjali</given-names>
          </name>
                              <aff>
            Nursing, United Arab Emirates                        <country>United Arab Emirates</country>
                      </aff>
                    
        </contrib>
                <contrib contrib-type="author">
                    <name>
            <surname>Abdulla</surname>
            <given-names>Zainab</given-names>
          </name>
                              <aff>
            Nursing, United Arab Emirates                        <country>United Arab Emirates</country>
                      </aff>
                    
        </contrib>
                <contrib contrib-type="author">
                    <name>
            <surname>Saji mathew</surname>
            <given-names>beena</given-names>
          </name>
                              <aff>
            Nursing, United Arab Emirates                        <country>United Arab Emirates</country>
                      </aff>
                    
        </contrib>
              </contrib-group>

      <!-- Volume / Issue / Pages -->
            <volume>15</volume>
                  <issue>9</issue>
                        <fpage>3310</fpage>
            <lpage>3327</lpage>
            
      <!-- Dates -->
      <history>
                <date date-type="received">
          <day>04</day>
          <month>10</month>
          <year>2026</year>
        </date>
                        <date date-type="accepted">
          <day>09</day>
          <month>10</month>
          <year>2026</year>
        </date>
              </history>

            <pub-date pub-type="epub">
        <day>26</day>
        <month>10</month>
        <year>2026</year>
      </pub-date>
      
      <!-- DOI Self-URI -->
            <self-uri xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.51583/IJLTEMAS.2026.150900168"/>
      
      <!-- Keywords -->
            <kwd-group kwd-group-type="author">
                <kwd>Nurses; higher education; working nurses; continuing education; professional development; barriers; organizational support; nursing educatio</kwd>
              </kwd-group>
      
    </article-meta>
  </front>

  <!-- ============================================================ BODY (Abstract) -->
  <body>
        <sec>
      <title>Abstract</title>
      <p>Background: Continuing higher education while working can support nurses’ professional development, career advancement, and quality of patient care. However, nurses may experience challenges in balancing academic requirements with professional, personal, and financial responsibilities. Understanding nurses’ perceptions and the factors that influence their ability and motivation to pursue higher education while remaining employed is important for developing appropriate educational and organizational support.
Aim: This study aimed to assess nurses’ perceptions of pursuing higher education while working and to identify the perceived factors, barriers, and sources of support associated with continuing higher education.
Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 192 nurses. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire assessing nurses’ perceptions of higher education, work-related barriers, family responsibilities, financial considerations, and organizational support. Sociodemographic and professional characteristics were also collected. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. The internal consistency of questionnaire domains was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. Appropriate inferential tests were used to examine differences in perception according to demographic and professional characteristics, while correlation and multiple regression analyses were considered to identify factors associated with nurses’ perceptions. Responses to open-ended questions regarding challenges and needed support were analyzed thematically.
Results: The study is expected to provide a comprehensive description of nurses’ perceptions of higher education while working and identify the principal barriers and facilitators influencing their educational participation. Particular attention will be given to work-related demands, financial constraints, family responsibilities, and organizational support. The findings will also determine whether nurses’ perceptions vary according to selected demographic and professional characteristics.
Conclusion: Understanding nurses’ experiences and perceptions of pursuing higher education while working can assist healthcare organizations and educational institutions in developing supportive policies and flexible educational opportunities. Addressing identified barriers and strengthening organizational support may facilitate nurses continued professional and academic development while maintaining their workforce participation.</p>
    </sec>
      </body>

  <!-- ============================================================ BACK (References) -->
    <back>
    <ref-list>
      <title>References</title>
            <ref id="ref1">
        <label>1</label>
        <mixed-citation>Nursing and Midwifery Council. (2021). The Code: Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates. Nursing and Midwifery Council.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
            <ref id="ref2">
        <label>2</label>
        <mixed-citation>Pool, I. A., Poell, R. F., Berings, M. G. M. C., &amp; ten Cate, O. (2022). Factors that influence continuing professional development over a nursing career: A scoping review. Nurse Education in Practice, 65, 103481. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2022.103481</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
            <ref id="ref3">
        <label>3</label>
        <mixed-citation>Ross, K., et al. (2021). Lifelong learning and nurses’ continuing professional development: A metasynthesis of the literature. BMC Nursing, 20, 62. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-021-00579-2</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
            <ref id="ref4">
        <label>4</label>
        <mixed-citation>Lim-Saco, F., &amp; Guino-o, T. A. (2024). Assessment of needs and barriers to continuing professional development among nurses. Silliman Journal, 65(1).</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
            <ref id="ref5">
        <label>5</label>
        <mixed-citation>Weldemariam, S., et al. (2024). Nurses engagement on continuing professional development programs and its barriers in selected hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
            <ref id="ref6">
        <label>6</label>
        <mixed-citation>Bayley, K. E. (2023). The impact on practice of authentic assessment as part of a university postgraduate taught programme of study for nursing and healthcare professionals: A literature review. Nurse Education Today, 120, 105622. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2022.105622</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
            <ref id="ref7">
        <label>7</label>
        <mixed-citation>World Health Organization. (2021). Global strategic directions for nursing and midwifery 2021–2025. World Health Organization.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
            <ref id="ref8">
        <label>8</label>
        <mixed-citation>World Health Organization. (2022). Global report on health care and nursing workforce development. World Health Organization.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
            <ref id="ref9">
        <label>9</label>
        <mixed-citation>American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2021). The essentials: Core competencies for professional nursing education. American Association of Colleges of Nursing.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
            <ref id="ref10">
        <label>10</label>
        <mixed-citation>Abu-Qamar, M. Z., Vafeas, C., Ewens, B., Ghosh, M., &amp; Sundin, D. (2020). Postgraduate nurse education and the implications for nurse and patient outcomes: A systematic review. Nurse Education Today, 92, 104489. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2020.104489</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
          </ref-list>
  </back>
  
</article>
