Effectiveness of a Competency Enhancement Program for Professional Nurses at the Emergency and Forensic Unit, in Faktha Hospital.

Abstract

            The purpose of this research was to study the effectiveness of the program to enhance the competency of professional nurses in Emergency and Forensic Accident Nursing Work at Fak Tha Hospital, Uttaradit Province. The population used for the study was 11 professional nurses in Emergency, Accident, and Forensic Nursing Work. The tools used in the research include 1) Professional nurse competency assessment for Accident, Emergency, and Forensic Nursing Work; 2) Manual for building competency for professional nurses in caring for patients in Accident and Emergency Work; 3) Program for building competency of professional nurses in Accident and Emergency Work at a community hospital. The researcher created the program to enhance the competency of professional nurses in Emergency, Accident, and Forensic Nursing Work, which consisted of 3 days of activities to enhance knowledge and practice nursing skills. Data were analyzed using statistics such as frequency distribution, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and paired t-test.

            The research results showed that before joining the professional nursing competency-building program in Emergency and Forensic Accident Nursing Work, the core competencies were at a high level (M=3.67, SD = 0.10), and job-specific competencies were at a high level (M=3.72, SD = 0.04). After participating in the program, core competencies were at a very high level (M=4.31, SD = 0.07), and specific job competencies were at a high level (M=4.17, SD = 0.05). After participating in the competency enhancement program for professional nurses in Emergency and Forensic Accident Nursing Work, both core competencies and job-specific competencies were higher than before participating in the program.