Comparison of Nursing Skills Performed During Home Nursing Practice Before and After a Curriculum Change

Abstract

〔Purpose〕This study aimed to clarify changes in the use of nursing skills by nursing students during the home nursing practice component of their studies before and after a curriculum change and to evaluate the effects of that curriculum change.

〔Methods〕Participants were fourth-year students in the department of nursing of a university who provided consent. Two groups were investigated: 120 students in 2014, before the curriculum change; and 88 students in 2015, after the curriculum change. Participants were asked to complete an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire regarding the number of times they had experienced certain nursing skills （13 categories, 71 items）, either through observation or actual use during home nursing practice. Item values were analyzed using Fisher’s exact test for frequency of skill observation and for frequency of skill use （alone or under instructor supervision）.

〔Results〕The survey response rate was 75.8% in 2014 and 81.8% in 2015. Participants reported experiencing a total of 69 nursing skills （95.8%） during home nursing practice. Results from the 2015 survey indicated significant increases in the frequency of student use of skills across six categories: 《Excretion care》, 《Activity care: rest and transferring》, 《Hygiene and personal care》, 《Dosage care and observation》, 《Monitoring biogenic function》 and 《Infection control》.

〔Discussion〕The curriculum change allowed for earlier implementation of home nursing education during the students’ course of study, and it also allowed for students to engage in a home nursing seminar before beginning the practical component; the results of the study suggest that the new curriculum produced a definite improvement in clinical nursing competence among nursing students.