NURSING STAFF DEVELOPMENT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS NURSING SERVICE (VETERAN AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTERS).
Contributors: University of South Dakota.
Published: 1991
Number of pages: 127
Subjects: Education, Adult and Continuing.; Health Sciences, Nursing.; Health Sciences, Education.
Description: This study identified the educational services and related programs that supplement the mandatory requirements for nursing staff in Department of Veteran Affairs medical centers; determined the similarities and differences in the supplemental educational services and related programs provided within and among the four levels of medical centers; and resulted in the construction of a staff development model.

The survey instrument collected data concerning the Levels of the Department of Veteran Affairs medical centers, age range and years of experiences of Associate Chief Nursing Services for Education, identified standards used in staff development programs, examined Associate Chief's Nursing Service for Education perceptions about current staff development programs, identified supplemental educational services and related programs currently used in staff development and elicited suggestions to identify educational services and related programs for a proposed staff development model. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data.

One hundred fifty-three Associate Chiefs Nursing Service for Education in the Department of Veteran Affairs were mailed survey instruments. One hundred and nineteen (77.7%) returned the completed survey instrument.

The findings of the study revealed that Level I-Level IV offered the same supplemental educational services and related education program regardless to mission or complexity of medical center. There were few differences between the actual and proposed staff development models.

The most frequently offered programs were: Regional Medical Education Center programs, Tuition Support, Tuition Reimbursement, basic cardiac life support, continuing education programs and inservice education programs (centralized and decentralized).

Masters and baccalaureate nursing programs were chosen more often than associate degree programs. Diploma programs were not included at level IV medical centers, whereas doctoral nursing programs were only associated with university affiliated medical centers.

Supplemental educational services and related programs involving technology, creativity and innovations rated lower than supplemental educational services and related programs used to develop basic skills and competencies. Joint Commission Accreditation of Healthcare Organization was the most frequent standard used by all levels of medical centers.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 52-12, Section: A, page: 4187.

Thesis (ED.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA, 1991.

School code: 0203.