The Lasting Impact of Nurse Education on Confidence, Care, and Outcomes

Maya Angelou famously said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” In healthcare, those words carry profound meaning. Patients may not remember every instruction, product detail, or clinical explanation, but they often remember whether they felt heard, reassured, prepared, and cared for. How a patient feels in those moments matters, because when patients feel more confident, supported, and informed, they are better positioned to participate in their care, manage their health, and experience better outcomes.

That experience often begins with the nurse. Nurses are at the center of some of the most vulnerable and meaningful moments in a patient’s care journey. When nurses have access to ongoing, evidence-based education, they are better equipped to deliver care with clarity, confidence, and compassion. That confidence shows up in the way they communicate and teach; but also, in how they problem-solve and support their patients…. and patients can feel the difference.

In my conversations with nurses across the United States, I hear stories that are both inspiring and deeply human. Nurses share the moments when they know they made a difference; when a patient felt reassured and understood, or when they felt more confident taking the next step in their care. They also share the challenges they face each day. Challenges like limited time, competing demands, inconsistent training, and the pressure to deliver specialized care while needing more support themselves. As a nurse, these conversations resonate deeply with me. They have inspired me to look more closely at what helps nurses feel prepared, supported, and confident. Because when nurses feel better equipped to care, patients feel better cared for.

Research continues to reinforce what many nurses experience every day: education matters. Ongoing clinical education helps strengthen nurses’ knowledge, skills, confidence, and decision-making, supporting their ability to provide informed, high-quality care. A systematic review titled “The impact of Continuing Nursing Education on nurses’ knowledge and quality of practice” found that continuing nursing education contributes to improved knowledge and skills and may help nurses develop greater self-confidence and proficiency in decision-making.¹

That confidence is not just felt by the nurse; it can be felt by the patient. In nurse-patient interactions, effective communication and patient-centered care are intricately connected to positive care outcomes and patients’ perceptions of quality. The study “A literature-based study of patient-centered care and communication in nurse-patient interactions” emphasizes that communication between patients and healthcare providers is crucial to care and recovery, and that patient-centered communication supports optimal health outcomes.²

In ostomy care, this connection becomes even more meaningful. Ostomy care is deeply personal, highly specialized, and often emotionally complex. Patients are not only learning a new skill; they are adjusting to a new way of living. The WOCN Society Patient Resources note that patients in facilities with Wound, Ostomy and Continence nurses had significantly better outcomes compared with those without WOC nurses, underscoring the value of specialized nursing expertise.³

 Education, then, should be more than a requirement or check-the-box activity. It helps nurses feel prepared, capable, and confident in the care they provide. For example, education can help a nurse explain pouch changes in simple steps, recognize early signs of skin irritation, answer questions with greater confidence, and reassure a patient who feels overwhelmed by a new ostomy routine. With that confidence, nurses can communicate clearly, teach effectively, and offer the support patients need. As a result, patients are more likely to feel informed, empowered, and cared for; feelings that can shape how they participate in their care and experience their outcomes.

 For ostomy care specifically, ongoing education can help nurses translate evidence into practice, reinforce product and pouching knowledge, recognize complications earlier, and provide practical teaching that supports self-management. Convatec supports this through a range of educational resources, including on-demand webinars, digital education, advanced ostomy learning, in-person Clinical Education programs, customized in-service programs, and support for the WOCN Society’s Ostomy Care Associate Program®, which is designed to strengthen ostomy knowledge, empower healthcare teams, increase access to specialized ostomy care, and improve patient outcomes. ^{4, 5}

Because when we invest in nursing education, we are not only building clinical knowledge, but we are also helping create the kind of care patients remember. Care that makes them feel seen, supported and confident; so they are ready for what comes next.

REFERENCES

 "The impact of Continuing Nursing Education on nurses’ knowledge and quality of practice: A systematic review" by Areti Stavropoulou, Martha Kelesi et al.

Stavropoulou, Areti; Kelesi, Martha; Baltagianni, Marianthi; Sigala, Evangelia; Tsapnidou, Eleni; Gerogianni, Georgia; and Katharakis, Georgios (2025) "The impact of Continuing Nursing Education on nurses’ knowledge and quality of practice: A systematic review," Health Professions Education: Vol. 11: Iss. 3, Article 5.
DOI: 10.55890/2452-3011.1346
Available at: https://hpe.researchcommons.org/journal/vol11/iss3/5

 A literature-based study of patient-centered care and communication in nurse-patient interactions: barriers, facilitators, and the way forward - PMC

Kwame A, Petrucka PM. A literature-based study of patient-centered care and communication in nurse-patient interactions: barriers, facilitators, and the way forward. BMC Nurs. 2021 Sep 3;20(1):158. doi: 10.1186/s12912-021-00684-2. PMID: 34479560; PMCID: PMC8414690.

 Patient Resources | WOCN Society

Westra, B. L., Bliss, D.Z., Savik, K., Hou, Y., & Borchert, A. (2013). Effectiveness of Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses on Agency-Level Wound and Incontinence Outcomes in Home Care. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs, 40(1), 25-33. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/WON.0b013e31827bcc4fp

Ostomy Care: On-Demand Webinars & Education | Convatec

Ostomy Care Associate Program

AP-81758-USA-ENGU-v1