Vaccination competence of graduating public health nurse students and nurses

The purpose of this study was to assess the vaccination competence of graduating public health nurse students (PHN students) compared with public health nurses (PHNs).

Structured instruments were developed for this study: a self-assessment (Visual Analogue Scale, VAS) of vaccination competence and a knowledge test. The data were collected through purposive sampling of graduating PHN students (n=129) from Finnish polytechnics representing the main geographical areas of Finland and PHNs (n=405), drawn from health centers in the same areas.

PHNs assessed themselves to have higher vaccination competence than the PHN students, and also did better on the knowledge test. In multivariate analysis, when all common background variables were taken into account, there was no significant difference between the students and PHNs in the self-assessment, though the PHNs outperformed students on the knowledge test.

Both basic and continuing education could be improved. The knowledge test developed for this study could be used at polytechnics and workplaces to test vaccination knowledge, and self-assessment could be discussed as part of employee development discussions. Future research might focus on developing the existing instruments, observing vaccination situations, and on interviewing clients.