Evaluation of the Clinical Nurse Specialists Training Program in Pediatric Intensive Care Units in China: Quantitative Results from Participants’ Perspectives

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of a clinical nurse specialists training program in Zhejiang Province, China, from participants’ perspectives. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 209 PICU nurse specialists who participated in the training program from 2016 to 2021. All participants completed an online questionnaire two years after graduation. We collected their demographic characteristics and their development status after the training (e.g., continuous improvement of core competence, research skills, and promotion). Chi-squared test was applied to assess the differences in effectiveness across subgroups. Results: In total, 209 (87.8%) out of 238 nurses responded to the survey among whom 73.7% launched new projects in their hospital after training and 75% published research articles in peer-reviewed journals. Also, 32.4% received promotions, and 67% participated in ICU-related continuing education programs. Based on multivariate regression analysis, the execution of new projects was closely related to the nurse’s position and the level of their working hospitals. The job title and position were associated with publication, research performance, promotion, and continuing education. Conclusions: The nurse specialists of the PICU carried out a set of new projects implanting new skills that they had learned from the training program. Their core competence was improved, including theoretical knowledge and operation skills, teaching capacities, and scientific research abilities. Many trainees published papers, applied for research grants, got promotions, and had further opportunities for continuing education.