Effect of Staff Development Program on Nurses' Performance Regarding Quality Standards of Neonatal Care

Abstract

Background: The quality standards of neonatal care provide a basis for what is expected and required, support the monitoring and measurement of performance against measures of best practice in order to identify priorities for improvement and provide information on how best practice can be used to support high quality neonatal care. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of staff development program on nurses' performance regarding quality standards of neonatal care. Design: A quasi-experimental design was used in carrying out the study. Setting: The study was conducted at the Neonatal Care Units at Mansoura University Children's Hospital, Mansoura General Hospital and Mansoura Hospital for Health Insurance. Subjects: A convenient sample of 103 nurses working in neonatal intermediate care units in the previously mentioned study settings. Tools: Data were collected using the following tools; self- administered questionnaire sheet to assess nurses' knowledge about neonatal care standards and standardized practical observational checklist to assess the nurses' application of neonatal care standards in the intermediate care units (Level II). Results: The study results revealed that there was statistical significant difference in relation to nurses' knowledge and practices regarding standards of neonatal care in the intermediate care units pre, immediate post and at follow up of staff development program implementation. It was found that more than four fifth of nurses had poor knowledge before program implementation, while, immediately after the program and at follow up, 98% and 94.2% of them had good knowledge respectively. All of nurses achieved incompetent practice before the program implementation, while 36% and 16.5% of them achieved competent practice immediate post program and at follow up respectively. Conclusion: There was a significant positive effect of staff development program on nurses’ knowledge, while, there was a limited positive effect on their practices and on the achievement of quality standards of neonatal care. Recommendations: Emphasize on the importance of conducting periodical continuing staff development programs for neonatal nurses to improve their performance, and to achieve the quality standards of neonatal care.