Date of Award
2005
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Curriculum, Instruction, and Media Technology
Abstract
Frequently, nurses with lower levels of self-confidence do not perform at the level of competency they normally would in non-testing or clinical situations. This obstacle to the evaluative process causes an inaccurate assessment of nurses' competency levels. This study examined the effects of confidence-building techniques on nurses during specific competency assessments of an 8-day orientation course in a Midwestern healthcare institution. Data was collected using researcher-developed tests for both medication administration and blood administration, and theEducational Testing Service's factor-referenced temperament scale on self-confidence. Forty-six nurses received confidence building statements within their tests and other written materials, as well as verbally. Forty-two nurses did not receive the written or verbal confidence-building statements or verbal rewards. The written tests and self-rated self-confidence scale were each administered as a pretest and posttest to the two groups during the medication and blood administration competency assessment sessions. In addition, the nurses were asked to voluntarily consent to an interview to examine what teaching techniques made them feel that they had more or less confidence in their abilities. The results showed that there were significant differences between the pretest and posttest scores on the blood and medication administration competency tests and self-confidence ratings for nurses in both the control and intervention groups. There was a correlation in that nurses in both the control and intervention groups with higher test scores on the blood/medication administration and self-confidence pretests tended to have significantly higher blood/medication administration and self-confidence posttest scores. Since both the intervention and control group displayed similar patterns of differences, there was no significant difference between the groups. Other variables common to both groups influenced the competency scores and self-confidence ratings. Voluntary interview results identified faculty teaching techniques and characteristics that nurses perceived to increase or decrease self-confidence levels.
Recommended Citation
Wathen, Ellen M., "Nurses' Confidence And Competence Levels" (2005). All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1028.
https://scholars.indianastate.edu/etds/1028