A comparision of the learning of basic nursing procedures was experimentally investigated. The main objectives were: a) to verify it students trained in nursing laboratory make less mistakes in their first real situation than those who had not similar training; b) to evaluate mursin laboratory training through a self-instructional strategy as compared with the traditional strategy.
Sixty-four female students enrolled in the Fundamentals of Nursing Course were investigated They had no prior experience with bladder catheterization. All 64 students were thoroughly evaluated on the subject taugh after they were exposed both to lectures and practical demonstration.
Three groups were formed A group A of 25, who received no training in the nursing laboratory was taken as control; a second group, B of 20 students, received the traditional training in the nursing laboratory; group C was composed of 19 students and their nursing laboratory training followed a self-instructional strategy.
Each nursing student performed a bladder catheterization in a patient. A nurse-instructor supervised each student performance and assessed her mistakes.
Following statistical analysis of the data it can be shown that:
- No significant higher number of mistakes was made by group A (control) as compared with group BC groups B and C togethers and the same occurred to group B as compared with group C
- Age and scores evaluation test, number of mistakes committed, and scores evaluation test or age were not statistically associated.
- Similar mistakes were made by students of all three groups.
- Time required for self-instruction varied greatly among students, but no association could be established with age, number of mistakes or scores evaluation test.
- Most students praised highly self-instruction strategy and calimed that for better results should be adopted in the reaching of other laboratory procedures.