Learning and professional practice: A study of four professions

The purpose of this research was to investigate how knowledge becomes meani ngful in professional practice across four different professions. Eighty se mistructured interviews were cone ducted with social workers, lawyers, adul t educators, and nurses who had attended continuing education programs 9 to 24 months previously. Findings indicate that professionals make meaning by moving back and forth between continuing professional education programs a nd their professional practice. In addition, each profession studied framed their meaning-making process through air understanding of the nature of th eir professional work. Implications for research and practice in continuing professional education are drawn.