Authors (including presenting author) :
Yeung LY (1), Wong SL (1), Ho HL (1), Leung KN (1), Wong LY (1)
Affiliation :
(1) Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital
Introduction :
Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) issues are essential and fundamental in a clinical workplace. With limited exposure to OSH context and a merely brief theory mentioned at school, newly registered nurses are prone to hazards while they are mostly focusing on establishing clinical competency and adapting role transition. This program aimed at completing transition between school education and clinical work, with development of occupational safety culture among the younger nursing workforce.
Objectives :
(1) To aid newcomers in adaptation and enhance OSH knowledge in specialty environments; (2) To formulate standardized specialty-based OSH training for newly graduated nurse and cultivate safety culture in clinical setting.
Methodology :
A “pretest” and “posttest” design is utilized. 9 newly graduated nurses were recruited. The OSH training curriculum was categorized into 8 aspects covering high-risk, high-volume OSH-related procedures or hazards in own specialty. Common OSH risk procedures like drain specimen collection, blood taking, gas unit / electrical hoister /magnetic restrainer operation, left ventricular assisted device electrical safety, etc. were all covered.
To enhance training flexibility and efficacy, the program was delivered in a bite-sized microlearning approach with 20-minute per session covering one topic each time. Each micro-training session consisted of theory, real life equipment orientation and interactive hands-on workshops.
Quiz with situational and image questions were used for knowledge evaluation. Skill assessments were needed for designated specialty high-risk procedures to ensure competencies. Evaluation survey was done for program improvement.
Result & Outcome :
(1) The training program was fragmented and delivered from October 2022 to December 2022. Statistically significant improvements are recorded with a raise of 30% total mean score passing from 15.89 (SD=2.60) in pretest to 21.89 (SD=2.08) in post-test (p< 0.05, paired t-test). Most knowledge advancement were shown in sharp safety, gas safety and violence patient management aspects. Raising new RNs’ competency and awareness on specialty high-risk OSH procedures enables a safer clinical environment for staff & patients.
(2) All nurses agreed that the program fostered their understanding and pragmatically enhanced specialty-oriented OSH knowledge. They revealed that most pragmatic information was rarely learnt before. Feedbacks on bite-sized interactive teaching are positive, it is easier to memorize and helped them to manage more competently & confidently.
(3) All nurses agreed that the program was comprehensive and delivered multiple topics that they are unfamiliar before. Over 85% of them agreed that the program has successfully assisted them in role adaptation and raised awareness and knowledge in OSH issues in our clinical environment.
