US Air Force Nurses Assigned to Outpatient Clinics: Perceived Clinical Competence in Contingency Operations
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to discover how active duty Air Force (AF) nurses assigned to outpatient clinics perceived their clinical competence to practice in contingency operations, and to discover if perceptions of current training were related to perceptions of competence. A sample of 273 nurses (54.9% response rate) participated in a web-based survey. Perceptions of clinical competence were measured using responses to the AF Clinical Competency Measurement Model. Four Likert scale items measured attitudes towards current training. Responses revealed that 81.7% of the sample perceived themselves as less than highly competent. Unfavorable attitudes towards training were pervasive, and there was not much of a relationship between perceptions towards training programs and perceptions of competence. Comments were added to 96 surveys. Themes that emerged in the qualitative analysis include: (a) deficient clinical skills, (b) unpreparedness for deployment, (c) competence related to acute care experience, and (d) job dissatisfaction. Findings suggest that most AF nurses who are assigned to outpatient clinics do not possess the perceived level of competence required in a deployed setting. Current skills training does not provide the practical knowledge required for developing or maintaining clinical expertise. Skills training for AF nurses who are assigned to outpatient clinics should routinely incorporate acute care practice opportunities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA414110
Entities
People
- Mary F. Hornback
Organizations
- University of Wyoming