Perinatal Nurse Fellowship Program: An Innovative Approach to Self Study and Hands-on Perinatal Nursing Education for Community Hospitals, a Pilot Study
- Identify challenges faced by Outreach Educators in rural areas
- Recognize unique ways to provide education at low cost while integrating hands-on learning
- Enhance the learning of concepts and skills essential to the L&D and mother-baby nurse
Proposed change: Development of a program that incorporates 1) participant self-study, 2) utilization of classroom time for hands-on skills and critical thinking exercises, and 3) clinical training at a Level III perinatal center.
Implementation, outcomes and evaluation:
Implementation: The program was developed and organized by perinatal outreach educators from a Level III regional perinatal center (RPC). The pilot program consisted of 4 nurses from a Level I L&D unit in a rural hospital with limited exposure to high risk perinatal situations. A perinatal self-study program was used as the primary source for the educational content. A Likert-style comfort scoring tool was created which assessed participants comfort levels with various aspects of labor and delivery, postpartum, and well-baby care. A 50 question test was developed using sample questions pulled from the self-study books. Chart audit tools were developed to assess basic knowledge and skill level. A luncheon was held at the level I center and the program objectives were shared with each participant as well as nursing leadership. The test, comfort tool and chart audits were also completed at this luncheon. For a total of 11 weeks, participants completed course work and submitted tests at the completion of each module. During this time, the program developers traveled to the level I facility and performed skills sessions and critical thinking exercises. Upon completion of the required 11 weeks of coursework the four participants spent 2 weeks ( 6 12-hour shifts) of clinical time working in the L&D, NICU, and well-baby nursery at the level III RPC, with the program developers serving as preceptors. After completing the 2 week clinical rotation of the fellowship program, the participants completed the post-test and comfort tool (the same tools were used for pre and post testing).
Outcomes: There was a dramatic increase in the knowledge base of the participants as evidenced by improvement on the post-tests. Comfort levels, assessed using the Likert scoring method also drastically increased.
Evaluation: The program developers recognized a need for a more streamlined data collection process. The participants requested that the program developers provide more hands-on training prior to the clinical rotation at the RPC.
Implications for nursing practice: Using the self-study method allowed valuable classroom time to be spent not on didactic teaching, but performing hands-on critical thinking activities.
Keywords: perinatal nurses, self-study, education, community, training
