Evaluation of the Nursing Specialty Program in Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing 1st Hybrid program of the Department of Mental Health

Abstract

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Objective: Our research aimed to evaluate the Nursing Specialty Program in mental health and psychiatric nursing, the 1^st hybrid program of the Department of Mental Health. The evaluation of performed using Kirkpatrick model. The model comprised the evaluation behavior and results, and factors that affect the graduates’ application of knowledge after the training.

Methods: Evaluation Research was evaluated by 82 graduates of nursing specialty in mental health and psychiatric nursing, the 1^st Hybrid program of the Department of Mental Health, and 55 superiors. A questionnaire was developed by the researchers. It included general information, nursing practice behavior after the training, and the successful results of the organization from the performance of the trainees. Content validity was approved by 5 experts, and every question’s Item-Objective Congruence Index (IOC) was 0.8. Data were analyzed as mean and standard deviation, percent, and categorizing data.

Results: Graduates and their superiors have the following opinions: graduates changed their nursing practice behavior after the training, and they always apply the knowledge gained in health promotion, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and improving the quality of patient care. However, they sometimes engaged in research and innovation.  In terms of results, it was found that nursing practice has been developed. In addition, they have improved the quality of work, research, and network coordination and developed mental health teams and mental health systems in their organization. In terms of factors that affect the activeness of the training, there are five factors that affect the participants’ ability to apply the knowledge from training to work. All informants agree that organizational policy, superiors’ support, co-workers’ support, network support, and self-determination all affect their ability to apply the gained knowledge to their work directly.

Conclusions: After completing the training for 6 months, the graduates had a change in nursing practice behavior for the better and were able to apply the knowledge to practical work. However, there should be follow-ups regarding behavior and evaluation of the academic achievements. Research and innovation can improve the academic quality of organizations on a long-term basis.