PERCEPTION OF NURSING STAFF ONTHEIR TRAINING TO TAKE CARE OFHOSPITALISED ADDICTS IN MEDICALAND SURGICAL SERVICES OF ANATIONAL GENERAL REFERENCEHOSPITAL OF URUGUAY

Abstract

A quantitative, descriptive, transversal studywas conducted in a period of eight monthsaproximadetly ( October, 2010 – May, 2011)with the aim of knowing the perception ofNursing staff training to take care ofhospitalised addicts in medical and surgicalservices of a National General ReferenceHospital. We implemented as data collectioninstrument: a validated and locally adaptedquestionnaire aimed at Nursing staff thatcollects information about personal andlabour characteristics and training perceptionthrough an attitude test (Likert Scale) Thestudy universe was the Nursing staff(professional and assitant) that works in theNational General Reference Hospital. Thetarget population was the Nursing staff thatperforms work in hospitalisation areas,General Surgery and Medicina Wards of theHospital, in the four shifts. The sample wasmade up of 80 employees (18 graduated and62 assitents) selected through a non-probabilistic sample of convinience, theestimation was achivied by stadistic formulas. An anonymous validated questionnaire wasused with informed prior consent. It wasdetermined that the staff profile ispredominantly female, age range of 31 to 40years old. 78% were Nursing assitants and23% graduated, from 1 to 5 years oldpositions. Regarding academic training thelargest percentage said to have taken part ofcourses, conferences or workshops offered bythe service to keep updated. Graduated aswell as assistants express that they still lackknowledge to take care of these patients andto implement correctly Nursing cares. TheMajority of them pointed out that the receivedtraining as students was not enough to lookafter addicts. 88,9% of graduated and 93,5%of assistants think that more training andupdating sessions or conferences should becarried out. We conclude that both professionsdemand more curricular and extracurriculartraining and the need of a constant servicetraining