. Suresh K Sharma; . Deeksha Arora; . Xavier Belsiyal
Volume 10, Issue 5 , May 2020, , Pages 1-7
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Considering lack of data on clinical acumen and clinical practice readinessof graduating nurses in India; this cross‑sectional survey was undertaken to assess ...
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BACKGROUND AND AIM: Considering lack of data on clinical acumen and clinical practice readinessof graduating nurses in India; this cross‑sectional survey was undertaken to assess the self‑reportedclinical practice readiness of graduating nurses from a selected state in India.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The survey was conducted at randomly selected public andprivate nursing institutes in Uttarakahnd, India, during June–July 2017. Total 173 final‑year nursingundergraduates were selected through cluster sampling technique and they were asked to reporttheir clinical competencies using a prevalidated and reliable tool, i.e. Comprehensive NursingCompetencies Questionnaire.RESULTS: The mean competencies score for basic nursing skills was reasonably high (236.5 ± 25.0).However, it was significantly low for the advanced nursing skills (148.7 ± 25.6) and selected basicnursing tasks such as perioperative care, elimination related interventions, and handling of medicalequipment (recoding electrocardiogram and using defibrillator). Graduating nurses with younger ageand longer duration of clinical placement had higher mean competency score in basic as well asadvanced nursing skills (P < 0.05). Whereas, nurses studying at private nursing institutes had lowermean competency score for advanced nursing skills (P = 0.001).CONCLUSION: Clinical practice readiness of graduating nurses for basic nursing skills is good.However, it is seriously poor for the advanced nursing skills. This could be because of lack of sufficientclinical learning material, experienced clinical nursing faculty, and poorly equipped nursing skill labs.Nursing regulatory bodies must regularly monitor and ensure that deficiencies are rectified and nursingfaculty remain clinically updated and active to produce clinically competent nurses.