Eliza M. L. WONG
Abstract
The purposes of this study were to examine nurses' perceived competency in advanced practice in caring for critically ill patients at Accident & Emergency Department of Hong Kong Public Hospitals, identify their perceived learning needs and to identify barriers to continuing education. Method: This is a descriptive study. A questionnaire was developed by the researcher specifically for this study, and was reviewed by a panel of experts to establish face and content validity. Questionnaires were distributed to a random sample of 88 registered nurses working at A & E Departments from 5 hospitals in Hong Kong. Sixty-three questionnaires (71.6% response rate) were returned. SPSS was used to analysis data. Results: Findings indicated that the overall perceptions of competency among A & E nurses were positive, although nurses perceived themselves to be less competent in psychosocial domain of practice, patients' behavioural problems, and X-ray interpretation. The majority of the respondents expressed that their continuing education need was a means to professional and career advancement.
Key words: Advanced practice, education needs, Hong Kong emergency nurses, perceived competency, specialty education