Training Program for Nurses to Enhance Competence Level Regarding COVID 19 Prevention

Abstract

COVID 19 is an emerging respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus. Globally spread of Covid-19 had a momentous consequence on people of all nations, races, and socio-economic groups. Competency is the state of possessing qualities and abilities that are required for a particular role or task. Training programs equip nurses with specialized knowledge and competency to better manage infectious diseases in a competent level in order to support the response to the epidemic. Aim: the study aimed to evaluate the effect of training program for nurses to enhance competence level regarding COVID 19 prevention. Setting: the study conducted at outpatient clinic (antenatal, gynecological and family planning units) at Ain Shams Maternity University Hospital. Sample: A convenient sample included one hundred forty nurses. Method: A quasi experimental design was used. Tools: two tools were used. First tool: Self-administered questionnaire, second tool: Observational checklist sheet was used to assess nurses’ performance regarding Protective Measures and Compliance with Standard Precautions. The result of the study shows that Pre-program knowledge scores for nurses were lower (32.9%), but they improved to (90.0%) in the post-program with a statistically significant improvement. In addition, pre-program incompetent practise was higher (84.3%) than post-program incompetent practice, with highly statistically significant differences (P - value.0001). Conclusion: Applying a COVID-19 training programme to nurses was successfully effective in improving their knowledge and practices for covid19 prevention. Accordingly, the following recommendation is proposed: Apply training programs for whole nursing staff to enhance their competency level regarding covid19 prevention.