There has been an extraordinary growth of technology-mediated learning in the higher education system over the last 10 years (IHEP 2000, p.1), predominantly in the area of distance education. These technological advances provide exciting opportunities for the delivery of education to those who have not previously been able to access on-campus learning, usually because of barriers of distance and cost.

While there are a growing number of studies supporting the implementation of distance education programs in nursing education, the use of Internet based learning as a sole means of education delivery is relatively new. This paper investigates the current literature available regarding the use of Internet-based education delivery for registered and enrolled nurses in undergraduate and postgraduate programs, and reviews contemporary education trends in Victoria, Australia, for enrolled nurses (ENs).

The challenge in nursing education currently is to design curricula that will address the health care needs of the future. This is not easy with the rapidly changing environment health care professionals, especially nurses, face in their daily work. To prepare graduates who can function successfully as professional nurses in this new century, nurse educators must examine the dominant trends in health care and education, and analyse whether the processes used to prepare students for practice will result in the desired outcome (Jorgensen et al 1998, p.109). The current growth and impact of web-based and online learning courses has been proposed by some as a major revolution for education, and has been firmly embraced by many tertiary institutions as the way of the future (Sims 1998, p.21).