Effects of a Neonatal Nursing Practice Program on Students' Stress, Self-efficacy, and Confidence

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a neonatal nursing practice program for nursing students on students' stress, self-efficacy, and confidence. METHODS: A 1-group pre- and post- study design was used. The participants consisted of 64 nursing students who were in a pediatric nursing clinical practicum at a nursing college in Seoul from September 2015 to May 2016. The program consisted of 3 stages-orientation, practice, and debriefing-and was conducted for 3 hours during a 2-week period of the pediatric nursing clinical practicum. The dependent variables were neonatal nursing practice stress, self-efficacy, and confidence. Data were analyzed using the paired t-test, the Pearson correlation coefficient, the x² test, and descriptive statistics with SPSS for Windows version 22.0. RESULTS: The neonatal nursing practice program was effective at decreasing clinical practice-related stress and increasing confidence and self-efficacy regarding neonatal nursing practice. CONCLUSION: The neonatal nursing practice program may effectively promote the integration of theoretical knowledge and practice. In the future, we propose to develop various educational programs that reinforce basic nursing skills for neonates as part of an effective pediatric nursing clinical practicum.