Professional capacity building of nursing personnel

Abstract

Introduction: Given the rapid advancement of knowledge and changing population needs, continuing education is essential to safe and effective nursing care. Continuing education enhances better employee productivity, flexibility, nursing outcomes, quality of treatment, and satisfaction of patients, relatives and nursing employees. The aim of the study was to determine the participants perception of seminars and to develop guidelines and suggestions for future work. Methods: A quantitative survey was conducted in 2014. The participants (n = 242) were requested to fill in a questionnaire on the day the seminar was held. The questionnaire was divided into four sections evaluating the event (place, time, topic, publicity, registration, organization and material); the seminar content and the lecturers; the length of lectures, workshops, and discussions, the respondentsʹ appraisal of lectures. The data collected were analyzed descriptively. The frequency, percentage, χ2 test with likelihood ratio were calculated. Results: Statistically significant differences were established in the quality of materials assessment (χ2 = 34.082, p < 0.0001) and the level of participant satisfaction with the lecturers (χ2 = 32.705, p < 0.0001). Different results were obtained among participants with university education regarding the seminar content (χ2 = 10.081, p > 0.018). Statistically significant differences were identified regarding the fulfillment of participantsʹ expectations in the age group 31 to 40 years (χ2 = 9.735, p > 0.021). Discussion and conclusion: The respondents expressed a high level of satisfaction with the organization, the choice of topics and seminar content. The survey results also indicate that more attention should paid to the preparation of study materials, the choice of competent lecturers and the duration of workshops.