A survey of the felt needs and preferred learning methods of a group of newly employed staff nurses
Date
1982
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
Type
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
The retention of nurses, mounting health care costs, an emphasis
on quality patient care, and nursing accountability are all reasons for
the recent interest in orientation programs that increase job
satisfaction, decrease attrition, and foster competency. The purpose of
this study was to examine the reaction of newly employed nurses to
their experiences during an orientation program in a large general
hospital. A longitudinal approach was used to examine the felt needs
and preferred learning methods of 54 full-time, part-time, and relief
(casual) nurses before and after this orientation program. It also
sought to determine if the information included in this orientation
program would be more meaningful if presented at a different time and
in a different manner.
Data were collected at three points by means of= a) a
questionnaire prior to the new nurse attending the orientation program,
b) a questionnaire at the end of the general orientation program, and
c) an interview at 155 hours or more of work experience. The
questionnaires and interview schedule were developed and administered
by the writer. Analysis of these data consisted of frequency counts,
cross-tabulations, and an examination of responses to open-ended
questions.
The results of the study indicated that:
1. Nurses with three to six years of experience, commencing
employment in specialty areas, more frequently than other nurses
expected the orientation program to help them feel more competent in
performing technical skills.
2. Nurses' informational needs could be ranked into four categories
to include:
emergency procedures;
the location of resource materials, manuals, areas, and
services, and safety and security;
employee related topics and patient care related topics;
miscellaneous topics of philosophies, objectives, organizational
charts, and services of other departments.
3. 92. 6% of the nurses preferred to learn by personal assistance
from an experienced staff member, 81.5% by demonstration and practice,
72. 2% by audio-visual methods, 66. 7% by lectures, and 64. 8% by written
materials.
4. 90.7% of the nurses preferred an orientation to the hospital
prior to commencing work on their unit.
5. The informational needs of nurses on the first day on the job
varied a great deal and were dependent on the amount of nursing
experience.
6. There was a relationship between how important the information
was to the nurse and how well it was remembered.
7. There was a relationship between how important the information
was to the nurse and his or her readiness to learn.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Degree
Master of Continuing Education (M.C.Ed.)
Department
Continuing Education
Program
Continuing Education