With healthcare staff called upon to use ever more sophisticated medical techniques and computer technology, there has been an increasing importance placed upon Continuing Nursing Education (CNE). In response to this, we decided to investigate whether recent developments in Internet technology might provide an innovative way to design and develop a cost effective, flexible, multilingual, CNE system to help staff learn specialist knowledge required to work within our Department of Neurosurgery. This was the basis for our Nursing Intranet Learning System (NILS). This paper discusses the issues involved in developing and delivering courses via this new medium. It will also describe some of the significant advantages of web-based learning over traditional computer based learning systems, as well as highlight some of the difficulties encountered in utilizing this rapidly evolving technology. Finally, future work for the system will be mentioned.[Copyright of Innovations in Education & Teaching International is the property of Routledge. Full article may be available at the publisher's website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14703290110074939]