Use of Physical Assessment Skills and Education Needs of Advanced Practice Nurses and Nurse Specialists

Shin, Hyunsook; Kim, Bog-Ja; Kang, Hee Sun

doi:10.4040/jkan.2009.39.5.709

J Korean Acad Nurs. 2009 Oct;39(5):709-719. Korean.
Published online Oct 31, 2009.
https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2009.39.5.709

Original Article

Use of Physical Assessment Skills and Education Needs of Advanced Practice Nurses and Nurse Specialists

Hyunsook Shin,¹ Bog-Ja Kim,² and Hee Sun Kang³

Author information

Author notes

Copyright and License

- ¹Assistant Professor, College of Nursing Science East-West Nursing Research Institute, KyungHee University, Korea.
- ²Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, University of Ulsan, Korea.
- ³Associate Professor, Department of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea.
Address reprint requests to: Kang, Hee Sun. Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, 221 Heukseok-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-756, Korea. Tel: 82-2-820-5699, Fax: 82-2-824-7961, Email: goodcare@cau.ac.kr

Received April 13, 2009; Accepted September 18, 2009.

Abstract

Purpose

The study was done to investigate physical assessment skills used by, and educational needs of, advanced practice nurses (APNs) and nurse specialists in Korea.

Methods

A total of 123 APNs and nurse specialists working in five major hospitals in Seoul were surveyed from July 15 to August 20, 2007.

Results

Fourteen skills out of 126 items were reported as being performed on a regular basis by participants. The majority of these skills involved general observation. Forty-six skills were rarely used. Some participants showed a lack of confidence in certain assessment skills, such as in doing a rectal or pelvic exam, and the use of some assessment equipment. Over 90% of participants required in-depth education on health assessment provided by specialists or nursing professional organizations.

Conclusion

More educational opportunities in physical assessment should be provided including education programs based on the nurses' skill levels and needs. This effort will help to increase confidence of APNs and nurse specialists in physical assessment skills, ultimately resulting in better nursing outcomes.

Keywords

Professional practice; Nurses; Physical examination; Education

Tables

Table 1
General and Work-related Characteristics of Participants (N=123)

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Table 2
Physical Assessment Skills Used on a Regular Basis (N=123)

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Table 3
Physical Assessment Skills Rarely Used (N=123)

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Table 4
Physical Assessment Areas Which Respondents Do Not Know How to Perform (N=123)

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Table 5
Needs for In-Depth Education

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Notes

This work was supported by the 2007 Kyunghee University Research Grant (Khu-20071404).

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