2021 Volume 10 Issue 2 Pages 43-52
Purpose: This study observed the development of novice public health nurses’ (N-PHN) home-visiting skills for a year.
Methods: The PHN preceptors evaluated N-PHNs’ home-visiting skills with 36 items three times in a one-year longitudinal study.
Results: Based on the average of 36 items, 37% of the N-PHNs were evaluated as “independent level: being self-supporting” after 12 months of employment. The items that were evaluated as “high” focused on establishing a relationship of trust. The items that were evaluated as “low” concerned comprehensive judgment, including complicated elements (e.g., about community) and interpretation of the value of home visits. The ratio of items that were rated as “independent level” among the 36 items between 4 and 12 months was highly correlated. There were many significant differences in the ratio of “independent level” of each item in a year, particularly from months four to eight. However, there were fewer differences between the eighth and twelfth months.
Discussion: As the development of N-PHNs’ home-visiting skills varied across items, the preceptors may give instructions according to the level of each item. The high evaluation at the time of employment resulted in a high evaluation one year later. It was suggested that strengthening basic home-visiting skills in school education before employment is necessary.
