Education’s evaluation of hemodialysis nurses

In modern nursing practice nurses must be knowledgeable and be able to work both independently and in collaboration with specialists of various professions. Nurses, who are able to work independently and are equal partners in health care team, should be taking care of patients with end-stage renal disease. In Lithuania researches have been carried out where are explored issues of nurses in teaching, learning and steady professional development. However there are no data about education of nurses who working in hemodialysis clinics. Nursing of patients who have chronic renal failure is complex and requires additional nursing skills and knowledge. Dialysis procedure technology changes constantly and very quickly, care for these patients acquires new dimensions, therefore the education of dialysis nurses is needful and useful. This education can’t be onetime and must be carried on to be effective and redoubles performance of dialysis. Due to this, in order to get more effectively nursing, Lithuania need comprehensive and permanent education program of hemodialysis nurses. Research objective. Evaluate the education of hemodialysis nurses’. Research methods. From March till September of 2009 in hemodialysis clinics have been carried out quantitative research. 55 nurses were included in study. The study performs in three stages. In the first stage before the nurses education program respondents completed the questionnaire which was created by work’s author. This questionnaire was consisted of two parts. In the first part respondents were asked to assess their knowledge, were asked of experience in dialysis, where they gained knowledge about working in hemodialysis and the opinion of the hemodialysis nurses need education program. In the second part of questionnaire – were asked to answer 52 questions associated with education and knowledge test. In the second stage of study respondents participated in the hemodialysis nurses education program. In the third stage after the training program nurses re-completed questionnaire of study’s author. This questionnaire also consists of two parts. In the first part respondents were asked of experience in dialysis, opinion about content of education program, teaching / learning methods, assessment of their knowledge and have the education program been useful or not, also were asked to assess their knowledge after the education program. In the second part respondents were asked to answer the same 52 questions as the questionnaire before the education program associated with the education and knowledge test. Results and conclusions. Was assessed knowledge of hemodialysis nurses before the education program. Summarizing 52 questions which are related to teaching about dialysis and knowledge test, scores of knowledge on average was 30 ± 3.6, minimum 18, maximum – 38. After the education program the average was 45 ± 3.03, the minimum was 35 scores, maximum – 50 (maximum possible 52 scores). Knowledge’s scores after the education program significantly correlated with nurses experience in hemodialysis clinics (r = 0.3, p = 0.01). Analysing the data, the effectiveness of nurse education was evaluated. Comparing knowledge before and after the education program, the statistically significant (p = 0.0001) change in knowledge was stated. Before the education program, nursing knowledge was considered satisfactory (average score – 30; 58 %), after the program – very good (average score – 45; 86 %). Knowledge’s scores on average of respondents increased by 15 (26 %) scores. The results were falled into the desired area and in line with the average of effective teaching. Opinion of nurses, who participated in the study, about knowledge of the education program comparing with an opinion before the training program statistically significant improved (p = 0.001). The scientific and practical recommendations, how perform the education of hemodialysis nurses, are given