Establishing and sustaining a virtual community of practice to enhance nurses’ research knowledge and skills: An action research study from the United Arab Emirates

Background: A Community of Practice (CoP) is a professional learning and development approach that facilitates knowledge sharing, skill enhancement, and collaboration among individuals within the same profession. It is typically structured around regular meetings focused on achieving a shared professional goal. Objective: This action research project aimed to develop and evaluate a virtual CoP based on Lave and Wenger’s situated learning theory. The initiative focused on enhancing research knowledge and skills among nurses working across various healthcare facilities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: The project followed the four stages of action research: planning, implementation, observation, and reflection. A framework was designed and applied to guide the structure and activities of the virtual research CoP. Data collection took place between January 2023 and February 2024. Results: The findings demonstrated that participation in the CoP positively impacted members’ research knowledge, skills, and practice. The virtual CoP framework is recommended for use by nurses, other healthcare professionals, and practitioners in diverse fields requiring complex knowledge and skills. Key success factors include strong leadership, engaged participants, and effective use of video conferencing technology. Conclusion: The proposed CoP framework has proven to be beneficial and adaptable. It offers a practical model for ongoing professional learning and knowledge development, particularly in domains that demand complex competencies. Healthcare organizations, including those operating across multiple locations, can implement this model to support collaborative learning, knowledge creation, and the application of best practices across various communities and specialties.