Date of Conferral

2019

Degree

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

School

Education

Advisor

Jennifer L. Mathes

Abstract

Healthcare agencies and stakeholders expect registered nurses to be competent at all times. When nurses are not confident in competencies, negative patient outcomes can occur. The purpose of this quantitative quasiexperimental with posttest only study was to investigate Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) competency confidence levels of 2 groups of new nurses who had 5-6 months of clinical experience. Framed by the Duchscher theory and the QSEN framework, the research question was developed to examine the differences between QSEN competency confidence levels of new nurses who participated in a prelicensure program plus a residency program and nurses who only attended the residency program. Sixty-eight new nurses from 1 health facility answered the Nursing Quality and Safety Self-Inventory (NQSSI). An independent t test was used to compare each knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSA) QSEN competency confidence levels for two groups. The results of this study demonstrated a difference between QSEN competency confidence levels between the 2 groups, but not all 18 NQSSI items reached a statistically significant difference. The 7 items that reached a statistically significant difference included the QSEN competency confidence level in knowledge and skills in evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and informatics. A statistically significant difference was also noted in the QSEN competency confidence level for patient-centered care skills. A 3-day professional development (PD) workshop was developed based on the results. Participating in the PD workshop could further increase the new nurses' QSEN competency confidence levels which can enhance patient outcomes resulting in positive social change.

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