[Nurses' self-perception of nursing competence after completing a 2-year training program at a medical center].

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Taiwan's Department of Health (DOH) promotes a standardized 2-year training program to raise the competence of newly certified nurses in the realms of patient care, nursing professionalism and communication skills as well as to ensure professional nurse training program quality. PURPOSE: This study evaluated training program participants' self-perception of nursing competency. METHOD: We used a cross-sectional approach and structured questionnaire to evaluate the nursing competency of 128 nurse trainees at a medical center. Questionnaires were filled out independently by participants and thus reflect participant self-assessments of questionnaire items. Descriptive and correlation analyses further explored data. RESULT: Results showed mean scores were 3.80 ± .60 for clinical technique; 3.78 ± .67 for administrative skill; and 3.21 ± .88 for educational and research skills . Nursing ability correlated significantly with age, seniority, nursing grade, and courses taken. The relationship between participant total score and program completion ratio formed a "V"-shaped distribution. CONCLUSIONS / IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE The DOH training program was has a positive effect on nursing competency in nurse trainees. Results also provide valuable information and suggestions for revising the DOH's nurse training program in the future.