Factors associated with changes in students’ self-reported nursing competence after clinical rotations: a quantitative cohort study
Abstract Background The quality of nursing care in different healthcare contexts can be associated with the level of available nursing competence. Physical assessment skills are vital in nurses' assessment of patient care needs. However, in nursing education, using physical assessment skills is...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04078-7 |
| _version_ | 1811165869635534848 |
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| author | H. Ösp Egilsdottir Lena Günterberg Heyn Ragnhild Sørum Falk Espen Andreas Brembo Kirsten Røland Byermoen Anne Moen Hilde Eide |
| author_facet | H. Ösp Egilsdottir Lena Günterberg Heyn Ragnhild Sørum Falk Espen Andreas Brembo Kirsten Røland Byermoen Anne Moen Hilde Eide |
| author_sort | H. Ösp Egilsdottir |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The quality of nursing care in different healthcare contexts can be associated with the level of available nursing competence. Physical assessment skills are vital in nurses' assessment of patient care needs. However, in nursing education, using physical assessment skills is challenging for nursing students who struggle to apply these skills comprehensively in a clinical rotation. Therefore, this study explores changes in nursing competence, factors associated with changes after clinical rotations, and whether a Suite of Mobile Learning Tools supports changes in confident use of basic physical assessment skills. Methods A quantitative cohort study with an explorative pre-and post-test design. During autumn 2019 and spring 2020, 72 s-year nursing students and 99 third-year students participated in the study. The Nurse Professional Competence scale short form was used to investigate students’ self-reported changes in nursing competence, and a study-specific questionnaire was used to investigate students’ confidence concerning performing physical assessments. The students voluntarily used the Suite of Mobile Learning Tools for the learning of physical assessment. Linear regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with changes in nursing competence after clinical rotation. The STROBE guidelines for cohort studies were followed for study reporting. Results After the clinical rotation, both student groups reported changes in nursing competence and confidence in performing physical assessment skills, with statistically significant moderate or large changes in all areas. The Suite of Mobile Learning Tools was evaluated as being useful for learning physical assessment. The regression analysis showed that confidence in performing physical assessment skills, the usefulness of the Suite of Mobile Learning Tools, and a higher nursing competence at the start of clinical rotation were positively associated with overall nursing competence. Conclusion Basic physical assessment skills are an important component of nursing competence and can be considered one of the pillars of person-centered care, as proposed by the Fundamentals of Care framework. Spaced repetition and access to digital resources are suggested pedagogical approaches to enhance student confidence in the use of assessment skills within academic and clinical contexts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T15:43:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-aa12832f14e6451583e9f08c5c2f62df |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T15:43:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-aa12832f14e6451583e9f08c5c2f62df2023-02-12T12:15:19ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202023-02-0123111510.1186/s12909-023-04078-7Factors associated with changes in students’ self-reported nursing competence after clinical rotations: a quantitative cohort studyH. Ösp Egilsdottir0Lena Günterberg Heyn1Ragnhild Sørum Falk2Espen Andreas Brembo3Kirsten Røland Byermoen4Anne Moen5Hilde Eide6Centre for Health and Technology, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Institute for Nursing and Health Sciences, University of South-Eastern NorwayCentre for Health and Technology, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Institute for Nursing and Health Sciences, University of South-Eastern NorwayOslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Oslo University HospitalCentre for Health and Technology, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Institute for Nursing and Health Sciences, University of South-Eastern NorwayCentre for Health and Technology, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Institute for Nursing and Health Sciences, University of South-Eastern NorwayInstitute for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of OsloCentre for Health and Technology, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Institute for Nursing and Health Sciences, University of South-Eastern NorwayAbstract Background The quality of nursing care in different healthcare contexts can be associated with the level of available nursing competence. Physical assessment skills are vital in nurses' assessment of patient care needs. However, in nursing education, using physical assessment skills is challenging for nursing students who struggle to apply these skills comprehensively in a clinical rotation. Therefore, this study explores changes in nursing competence, factors associated with changes after clinical rotations, and whether a Suite of Mobile Learning Tools supports changes in confident use of basic physical assessment skills. Methods A quantitative cohort study with an explorative pre-and post-test design. During autumn 2019 and spring 2020, 72 s-year nursing students and 99 third-year students participated in the study. The Nurse Professional Competence scale short form was used to investigate students’ self-reported changes in nursing competence, and a study-specific questionnaire was used to investigate students’ confidence concerning performing physical assessments. The students voluntarily used the Suite of Mobile Learning Tools for the learning of physical assessment. Linear regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with changes in nursing competence after clinical rotation. The STROBE guidelines for cohort studies were followed for study reporting. Results After the clinical rotation, both student groups reported changes in nursing competence and confidence in performing physical assessment skills, with statistically significant moderate or large changes in all areas. The Suite of Mobile Learning Tools was evaluated as being useful for learning physical assessment. The regression analysis showed that confidence in performing physical assessment skills, the usefulness of the Suite of Mobile Learning Tools, and a higher nursing competence at the start of clinical rotation were positively associated with overall nursing competence. Conclusion Basic physical assessment skills are an important component of nursing competence and can be considered one of the pillars of person-centered care, as proposed by the Fundamentals of Care framework. Spaced repetition and access to digital resources are suggested pedagogical approaches to enhance student confidence in the use of assessment skills within academic and clinical contexts.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04078-7Nursing studentsClinical placementsConfidenceNursing carePhysical assessment skillsClinical skills |
| spellingShingle | H. Ösp Egilsdottir Lena Günterberg Heyn Ragnhild Sørum Falk Espen Andreas Brembo Kirsten Røland Byermoen Anne Moen Hilde Eide Factors associated with changes in students’ self-reported nursing competence after clinical rotations: a quantitative cohort study BMC Medical Education Nursing students Clinical placements Confidence Nursing care Physical assessment skills Clinical skills |
| title | Factors associated with changes in students’ self-reported nursing competence after clinical rotations: a quantitative cohort study |
| title_full | Factors associated with changes in students’ self-reported nursing competence after clinical rotations: a quantitative cohort study |
| title_fullStr | Factors associated with changes in students’ self-reported nursing competence after clinical rotations: a quantitative cohort study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors associated with changes in students’ self-reported nursing competence after clinical rotations: a quantitative cohort study |
| title_short | Factors associated with changes in students’ self-reported nursing competence after clinical rotations: a quantitative cohort study |
| title_sort | factors associated with changes in students self reported nursing competence after clinical rotations a quantitative cohort study |
| topic | Nursing students Clinical placements Confidence Nursing care Physical assessment skills Clinical skills |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04078-7 |
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