Effect of a Practice-Oriented Electronic Medical Record Education Program for New Nurses.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: New nurses often face challenges in adapting to clinical environments, particularly in mastering electronic medical record (EMR) systems, which are critical for effective patient care and communication. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a practice-oriented EMR education program designed to improve new nurses' EMR competencies. Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest-post-test design with a non-equivalent control group was employed. Fifty-four new nurses employed for less than a year participated, with 25 in the intervention group and 29 in the comparison group. The intervention group underwent five weekly sessions focused on core EMR tasks, including admission nursing, operation/procedure documentation, patient transfer/discharge, night duties, and SBAR handovers. The program, led by clinical nurse educators, incorporated lectures, practical exercises, and Q&A sessions. EMR competencies were assessed using a validated 5-point Likert scale. Results: The intervention group showed significant improvements across all assessed domains, with post-program scores significantly higher than those of the comparison group. The most notable improvements were in operation/procedure documentation and patient transfer/discharge tasks. The comparison group's gains were limited, likely reflecting natural skill acquisition through clinical experience. Conclusions: The practice-oriented EMR education program effectively enhanced new nurses' EMR competencies. The program's structured approach, which combined theoretical instruction with extensive hands-on practice and department-specific adaptations, proved particularly effective in improving complex documentation tasks. The integration of comprehensive EMR training into nursing curricula and the expansion of such programs to other institutions are recommended for broader implementation.