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An Outcome Evaluation of an In-Service Training Program for Nursing Home Aides

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Rodney R. Skinkle  and
Peter R. Grant
Rodney R. Skinkle
Affiliation:
University of Saskatchewan
Peter R. Grant
Affiliation:
University of Saskatchewan
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Abstract

Nursing home aides are the primary care providers for the institutionalized elderly but, until recently, aides have received very little formal training. Recognizing this, some community colleges have implemented in-service training programs. This paper presents the results of an impact assessment of the Saskatchewan program offered by Kelsey Institute of Applied Arts and Science. The sample included 86 aides from 16 nursing homes selected at random from both rural and urban areas. Results from this study show that program graduates knew significantly more about simple nursing skills, the aging process, and the philosophy of long term care in comparison to aides from nursing homes that did not offer this in-service training (non-participants). Program graduates were also significantly more likely to describe their health care team as functioning effectively. However, attitudes of program graduates toward the elderly were not significantly different from non-participants. The vast majority of the aides, whether trained or untrained, held positive attitudes toward the elderly. Implications and limitations of these results are discussed in conjunction with information from interviews with three Directors of Care who have experience implementing and supervising this in-service training program.

Résumé

C'est aux aide-infirmières dans les centres d'accueil pour gens âgés que revient la responsabilité d'administrer les soins primaires, mais jusqu'à dernièrement leur stage de formation pédagogique demeurait plutôt court. Dans le but de remédier à la situation, certaines écoles communautaires ont décidé de mettre sur pied un programme de formation en cours d'emploi. Cet article présente les résultats de la mise en vigueur du programme offert par le Kelsey Institute of Applied Arts and Science en Saskatchewan. L'échantillon a regroupé 86 aide-infirmières provenant de 16 centres d'accueil prélevés au hasard et tous situés dans des régions rurales et urbaines. Les résultats qui se sont dégagés de cette étude indiquent que les graduées de ce programme ont une meilleure connaissance des soins infirmiers de base, du processus de vieillissement et de la philosophie des soins à long terme, que les aide-infirmières travaillant dans des centres d'accueil où ce programme de formation n'est pas offert (non-participants). De plus, les graduées sont beaucoup plus susceptibles d'interpréter et de décrire le fonctionnement de leur équipe de soins de façon positive. Toutefois, l'attitude des graduées envers les personnes âgées n'est pas sensiblement différente de celle des non-participants. La majorité des aide-infirmières, entraînées ou non, possède une attitude positive et saine à l'égard des personnes âgées. Les conséquences et les restrictions de ces résultats sont discutées conjointement avec la documentation extraite d'entrevues menées auprès de trois directeurs de soins qui ont mis sur pied ce programme de formation et en ont surveillé l'enseignement.

Keywords

Nursing HomeAidesEvaluationIn-ServiceTraining
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 7 , Issue 1 , Spring/printemps 1988 , pp. 48 - 57
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1988

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References

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