EFFECTS OF NURSING EDUCATION ON NURSING DIAGNOSES.
Contributors: Wayne State University.
Published: 1984
Number of pages: 138
Subjects: Education, Curriculum and Instruction.
Description: There has been an increasing realization during the past several years of the need for nurses to make nursing diagnoses. Making an accurate diagnosis requires that nurses have a clear understanding of what data to gather and the ability to make judgments based on scientific knowledge. Since there are two categories of nurses in current practice, who differ in their educational background, it becomes of importance to explore the difference in their ability in making diagnoses.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a difference between diploma and baccalaureate degree registered nurses in their ability to make correct nursing diagnoses.

An instrument consisting of five vignettes with variation in their clinical content was used for data collection. The demographic data was elicited by means of a questionnaire.

The design of the study was causal comparative in that a comparison was made between two groups. The independent variable of educational background was not manipulated; and the dependent variable was the score on the diagnoses vignettes.

In order to determine whether there was a difference in two groups, the data were subjected to a two-tailed t-Test. A t-value of 5.14 was significant at the p < .05 level. The degree respondents were able to make more correct nursing diagnoses than the diploma subjects.

The data from each nursing diagnosis were subjected to a Chi-Square test of significance. When a depth of scientific knowledge was essential in making diagnoses, the differences were significant between two groups. However, no significant differences were found when a cursory scientific and psychosocial knowledge were necessary in making diagnoses.

Twelve subjects from each sample with six to ten years in nursing practice were matched on the demographic variable of "Years of Experience." The data were subjected to a two-tailed t-Test. There were no significant differences noted between two groups based on their years of nursing practice.

The findings generated from the results of the study suggest the need for: (1) determining the required levels of patient care services; (2) establishing different categories of nursing practice; and (3) determining the effectiveness of nursing educational programs.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 45-05, Section: A, page: 1289.

Thesis (ED.D.)--WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY, 1984.

School code: 0254.