Evaluation of Nursing Students' Core Nursing Skills in Pain Management and Transfusion Therapy

Objectives This study aimed to assess students' core nursing skills in pain management and transfusion therapy regarding their knowledge, attitude, performance, and communication skills, and to identify the perceived importance and performance of core nursing skills. Methods Participants were 71 fourth-year students enrolled in the Adult Nursing Practicum (Operating Room, Post-Anesthesia Care Unit) at C University in the first semester of 2024. Core nursing skills focused on pain management and transfusion therapy, guided by protocols based on accreditation standards and latest clinical guidelines. The 45-hour practicum included 6 hours for pain management and transfusion therapy practice and evaluation. Students reported the clinically important patient’s problems using the SBAR method and completed an online survey on the importance and performance of core nursing skills. Evaluations were conducted on a 10-point scale for knowledge, attitude, performance, and communication skills. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA with Scheffé’s test, Spearman's correlation, and Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA). Results The average score of the core nursing skills was 9.66±0.38, reaching the expected proficiency level. Higher knowledge was correlated with better performance (r=.285, p=.016) and more positive attitude (r=.443, p<.001). Performance was positively correlated with the perceived importance and performance of transfusion therapy (r=.290, p=.018; r=.356, p=.003). IPA placed pain management and transfusion therapy on the Quadrant B (higher importance and higher performance). Conclusions The evaluation on the core nursing skills regarding knowledge, attitude, and performance may be guide the improvement of the clinical practice education for nursing students. Additionally, the evaluation system of this study could be used as a evidence-based education guideline of the practicum education.