Psychosocial care proficiency self-assessment and related factors of nurses with postgraduate education

INTRODUCTION: Nurses’ understanding of the value of prioritizing psychosocial care and developing skills for psychosocial care have an important place in all areas of nursing. This research was carried out to determine the nurses with post-graduate education their psychosocial care proficiency self-assessment and the factors related to them.
METHODS: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 56 nurses with postgraduate education working in a research and practice hospital. Research data were collected with a descriptive information form, the psychosocial care proficiency self-assessment scale (PCPSAS).
RESULTS: The mean score of the nurses participating in the study was 75.23±11.20 in PCPSAS, and the scores they got in the sub-dimensions of “Symptom diagnosis,” “Using information,” “Intervention” and “Diagnostics” were 21.50±2.87, respectively; 21.05±3.51; 16.14±3.09; It was determined to be 16.53±2.76. It was found that the total score of PCPSAS and the sub-dimensions of using information, intervention, and diagnosis differed significantly according to the level of postgraduate education, and the scores of the intervention sub-dimension differed significantly according to age and gender (p<0.05).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: As a result of the study, it was determined that nurses with postgraduate education considered themselves competent in psychosocial care, while there were significant differences in terms of competence in using information, intervention, and diagnosis according to education level, and in self-assessment of competence in psychosocial interventions according to age and gender. It may be recommended that education and evidence-based practices that emphasize the value of prioritizing psychosocial care be added to all graduate nursing programs.