The Development and Testing the Effects of Pre-Clinical Placement Program

Background/Objectives: This study was to develop a pre-clinical placement program and evaluate its effect for the second year nursing students. Methods/Statistical Analysis: A non-randomized control trial study was used. A total of 106 students participated in experimental group, attending the pre-clinical placement program, which consist of 8 hours of clinical practice after completion of fundamental nursing subject. Control group, 109 students, attended the standards education course. Both groups completed pre/post-test measure of self-efficacy, communication competency, and self-directed learning competency. The differences of main variables between groups were analyzed by t-test using SPSS program. Findings: Results showed that the mean difference of self-efficacy in nursing practice (t = -0.83, p = 0.41), communication competence (t = -0.19, p = 0.85), and SDL competence (t = -0.01, p = 0.99) between pre-test and post-test was not significant. However, the variable of self-efficacy in nursing practice and the mean score for several items such as 'nursing diagnoses' (t = 2.66, p = .01), 'physical examination' (t = 3.58, p<.001), and 'self-care education' (t = 3.11, p<.001) were significantly changed in the experimental group. Moreover, the experimental group had significant improvement in self-efficacy in aspects of nursing such as diagnosis (t = 2.66, p = 0.01), physical examination (t = 3.58, p<0.001), and self-care education (t = 3.11, p<0.001) compared to the control group. Application/Improvements: The PCP program was effective in improving multiple self-efficacies in nursing practice, such as defining nursing diagnoses, physical examination, and patient education.