Assessing Educational Needs of Nursing Students and Teachers Regarding Physical Assessment of Child Patients During Clinical Training

Abstract

　Objective : The objective of this study was to clarify educational issues by assessing the current learning attainment of nursing students undergoing clinical training in relation to the physical assessment of child patients, as well as the teaching strategies used by university teachers.

　Methods : A needs assessment was conducted by analyzing the results of a survey of 176 nursing students and 35 pediatric nursing university teachers throughout Japan, using the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation （ADDIE） model as a framework.

　Results : Students’ understanding of child development in infants and toddlers was low, and showed a significant positive correlation with their understanding of how to approach child patients. Students’ ability to observe vital functions was influenced by family members’ cooperation and help in the case of infants and toddlers. Their ability to make observations associated with treatment was influenced by the help of clinical nursing educators and university teachers. On the other hand, pediatric nursing university teachers seemed to have limited teaching strategies to provide students with experience of interaction with child patients closely reflecting the clinical environment.

　Discussion : An issue for further study is the development of a learning support system to enable students to understand the natural reactions characteristic of children at various developmental stages through extensive experience that facilitates the creation of appropriate relationships with child patients in different situations, together with the implementation and evaluation of physical assessment using predictions and well-grounded observation.