RESUMO
BACKGROUND: As the aging population grows, facing multifaceted health challenges and escalating care costs, equipping newly graduated nurses with the requisite skills for high-quality gerontogeriatric care becomes crucial. This study assesses the psychometric properties of a Gerontogeriatric Competency (GGC) scale to evaluate the competencies of newly graduated registered nurses (RNs). METHODS: Using a convenience sampling approach, a nationwide, observational prospective cohort study was conducted among 272 newly graduated RNs. The evaluation framework included a sociodemographic questionnaire, three groups of questions targeting gerontogeriatric nursing education aspects, and the GGC scale, with 64 competencies. Construct validity (via confirmatory factor analysis), known-group validity and reliability (assessed by Cronbach's α) were examined. RESULTS: The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) showed an adequate index fit: the ratio of chi-square to degrees of freedom (χ2/df) = 2.785, the goodness-of-fit index (GFI) = 0.579, confirmatory fit index (CFI) = 0.864, the parsimony goodness-of-fit index (PGFI) = 0.526, the parsimony confirmatory-of-fit index (PCFI) = 0.809, the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.087, and the modified expected cross-validation index (MECVI) = 24.418. Differences were observed in gerontogeriatric competencies based on curriculum inclusion, self-confidence, knowledge in caring for older adults, and satisfaction with the nursing program content. The Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.992 for the overall scale and ranged from 0.935 to 0.983 for the GGC dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: The GGC scale is a valid and reliable tool for assessing the gerontogeriatric competencies of new graduate RNs, highlighting its potential to enhance education, training, and, ultimately, the quality of care provided to the older population.
RESUMO
O presente Relatório está contextualizado no plano curricular de estágio do 1º Mestrado em Enfermagem da Escola Superior de Saúde de Portalegre - Instituto Politécnico de Portalegre, na Área de Especialização em Enfermagem Comunitária, que decorreu entre 14 de Fevereiro a 30 de Junho de 2011. O estágio foi dividido em duas áreas de intervenção comunitárias distintas: a primeira na área da educação sexual na adolescência que se realizou na Escola Secundária Mouzinho da Silveira e na Escola Secundária de São Lourenço, surgindo como resposta a um projeto trabalho conjunto entre esta escola e a Escola Superior de Saúde de Portalegre, onde foi realizado por nós um diagnóstico de situação. A segunda intervenção surge na área da promoção da imagem da Escola Superior de Saúde de Portalegre, que visou facilitar as escolhas da vida profissional através da promoção da imagem da escola e do conhecimento da oferta formativa nela existente junto dos alunos do 9º e 12º anos do concelho de Portalegre e na informação para o desenvolvimento e promoção de hábitos de vida saudáveis por parte dos jovens e ainda a demonstração da execução do suporte básico de vida. A população alvo de intervenção foram os alunos do 8º,9º 10º, entre os 13 e os 22 anos, num total de 693 jovens. Os objetivos do estágio foram: adquirir competências tendo por base a metodologia do planeamento em saúde, na avaliação do estado de saúde desta comunidade; bem como: Contribuir para o processo de capacitação desta comunidade. Conhecer os comportamentos e os estilos de vida dos adolescentes, integrados no sistema educativo. Em relação ao relatório de estagio o principal objetivo foi: encontrar respostas honestas e proceder a uma auto-avaliação construtiva e de aprendizagem pessoal (Soares et al 1997: 36).
The following report is contextualized in the training curricular plan of the first Master's in Nursing at Escola de Saúde de Portalegre Instituto Politécnico de Portalegre (Health Superior School of Portalegre Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre), in the Specializing Area of Community Nursing, that took place between the 14th February and 30th June 2011. The training period was divided in two distinctive community intervention areas: the first one, in the sexual education area during adolescence that took place at Mouzinho da Silveira Secundary School and São Loourenço Secundary School, as an answer to a cooperative work project between this school and Escola Superior de Saúde de Portalegre (Health Superior School of Portalegre), were a situation diagnoses was done. The second intervention emerged in the image promotion area of Health Superior School of Portalegre, that aimed at making easier the career life choices through the promotion of the school's image and the knowledge of the formative supplies it offers near the 9th and 12th grade students from Portalegre's council and the information for development and promotion of healthy life styles of young people and also the demonstration of the execution of basic life support. The target population of the intervention were the 8th, 9th and 10th grade students, between the ages of 13 and 22, making a total of 693 youngsters. The aims of the training period were to acquire skills based on a health planning methodology, on an evaluation of the health state of this community. To contribute to the capacitance process of this community. To know the behaviors and life styles of teenagers, included in the educational system. Regarding the training report the main objective was to find honest answers and proceed on a constructive self evaluation and of personal learning (Soares et al 1997:36).