The importance of continual education in the process of integration of young nurses

Abstract

Background: Duty of a nurse-manager is to realize importance of integration of newly employed nurse for forming coherent, unique and efficacious team. Integration of newly employed nurses, especially those without working experience, includes acceptance of standards that have been already accepted by other employees. The aim of this investigation was to show the importance of integration, in the first place the education for further professional improvement of young nurses. Methodology: Each year, in September/October the Educative Program (EP) for young nurses is organized at the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia. The program consists of 24 hours of theoretical lectures, and of 28 hours of practical teaching. At the beginning and at end of EP, the written test for knowledge checking is obligatory for all participants. Results: From September 2001 till June 2002, a group of twenty-two young nurses with no working experience were employed on a full-time basis at the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia. The median age was 22 years (range: 20-24yers). Sixteen of them (73%) started attending the EP during 2002/2003. At the end of course all of them passes the written exam (half of attendees showed excellent results). Conclusion: Integration of young nurses mainly depends on the organization of continual education - the activity that has to become an obligation in all health institutions.

Keywords

• education
• nursing
• continuing
• medical oncology