Utilization and perceived benefits of postoperative otology in-service training for inpatient nurses

This study examined the perceived effectiveness of in-service training (IST) to improve the nursing care of post-operative otology patients as a function of nursing experience. IST was administered to four distinct units in a large university hospital, examining nurses with a range of experiences in otology care. An eight-item IST evaluation instrument was developed, administered, and validated for this study. The results of this study indicate the following: a variation existed among units in the receptiveness to IST; a 15-20-minute IST session significantly improved the perceived ability to deliver quality patient care; similar effectiveness of the IST was observed for all otology care groups; and an oral IST approach was more effective than a self-study approach. Further, we found that IST increased awareness and utilization of specialty support services.