Development and Implementation of an Ultrasound Wireless Technology Educational Program for Nursing Students: A...

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Medical Ultrasound Technology

Background:

• Ultrasound (US) training is crucial for nurses, typically provided post-graduation.
• Integrating US training into undergraduate nursing curricula can enhance patient care quality.
• Current nursing education may not adequately prepare students in US skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of an ultrasound technology educational program (USTep) for undergraduate nursing students.
• To assess the impact of USTep on students' knowledge, self-confidence, satisfaction, and perceived usefulness of US skills acquisition.
• To improve the quality of nursing curricula through the integration of US training.

Main Methods:

• A 3-hour USTep was delivered to 118 undergraduate nursing students.
• The program combined theoretical instruction with hands-on simulation training.
• Pre- and post-program surveys with closed and open-ended questions were used for data collection.

Main Results:

• Significant increases in US knowledge (48.1% to 93.4%) and self-confidence (1.7 to 3.9) were observed post-USTep (p < 0.00001 and p < 0.001, respectively).
• Participants reported benefits for their training, future employment, patients, and the nursing profession.
• 97% of students expressed satisfaction with the USTep experience.

Conclusions:

• A brief 3-hour USTep effectively enhances undergraduate nursing students' knowledge and self-confidence in ultrasound use.
• The educational program demonstrates high student satisfaction and perceived value.
• Integrating USTep into nursing curricula is a viable strategy to improve essential clinical skills.