EFFECT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR HEAD NURSES ON THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND SOFT SKILLS
Creators: name: EMAN YOSSRY MOHAMED
name: MAHASEN ESMAILE MOHAMED
name: AMAL HEBASHY ELEWA
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Educational Program, Head Nurses, Soft Skills.

description: Abstract

Background: The worled is entering an era that requires the use of new abilities, particularly soft skills. Those skills encompass cognitive, interpersonal, and intellectual, as well as practical capabilities. They can be learned and improved through appropriate training efforts, as well as combined to achieve complex personal and organizational outcomes. Aim: The study examined the impact of soft skills educational program for head nurses on their knowledge and skills. Design: A quasi-experimental research was utilized. Setting: This study was conducted at the New Kasr El-Aini Teaching Hospital which provides paid services it includes all specialties, the hospital is affiliated to Cairo University Hospitals. Subjects: Conveniec sample (n=33) of head nurses at the selected departments and critical care units. Tools: Data was collected via three tools: 1st Personal characteristic data tool, 2nd soft skills knowledge questationaire, and 3rd an observational checklist of soft skills practices. Results: The study revealed significant statistical differences in total soft skills knowledge and soft skills knowledge dimensions during assessment periods. The total mean score across all dimensions increased significantly from (x̄=16.40) pre-program to (x̄=27.60) post-program and (x̄=21.00) at follow-up. All (100%) and (76.7%) of head nurses had high satisfactory knowledge level immediately post program and 3 months post program respectively, compared to (83.3%) of them had unsatisfactory knowledge level preprogram. Additionally, there were significant differences in total observed head nurse’s soft skills mean scores and all dimensions, with the overall total mean score increased from (x̄=56.96) pre-program to (x̄=97) post-program and (x̄=76.75) at follow-up. Also, the majority (97%) of head nurses had unsatisfactory level of observed soft skills preprogram. While, all of them (100%) had highly satisfactory level of observed soft skills immediately post program and satisfactory level three months post program Conclusion: The study found a significant improvement in head nurses soft skills knowledge test scores, and soft skills practice immediately and three months after program implementation compared to preprogram. Moreover, the highest percent of them had high satisfactory knowledge level immediately post program and 3 months post program respectively.  All of them had highly satisfactory level of observed soft skills immediately post program and satisfactory level three months post program compared to preprogram. Recommendations: Administrators should encourage application of information technology system to equip nurses with advanced soft skills, administrators should implement regular soft skills training programs for nursing staff to enhance their knowledge and practices of soft skills, to improve patient, and organizational outcomes, and conduct regular monitoring to identify gaps.