Readiness and heel prick skills in intern nurses: A correlational study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Clinical Skills Development
• Healthcare Training

Background:

• Practical training for nurses was significantly impacted by the shift to distance education.
• Assessing clinical readiness and practical skills is crucial for effective nursing practice.
• Trainee nurses' preparedness is a key factor in patient care quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between trainee nurses' readiness for clinical practice and their heel prick blood collection skills.
• To understand how readiness for practice influences essential procedural skills during interrupted training periods.
• To identify factors associated with higher readiness scores among intern nurses.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive and correlational study was conducted with intern nurses in Eastern Türkiye.
• Data were collected using the Casey-Fink Readiness for Practice Scale and a self-reported heel prick skills scale.
• Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and Pearson correlation analysis.

Main Results:

• Intern nurses who voluntarily chose their profession reported higher readiness for practice.
• A significant positive correlation was observed between readiness for practice and heel prick blood collection skills, especially in pre-procedure aspects.
• Readiness for practice showed a weak but statistically significant association with practical skills.

Conclusions:

• Trainee nurses' readiness for clinical practice is linked to their self-assessed competence in newborn heel prick procedures.
• Educational interventions aimed at enhancing readiness may improve practical skill performance, particularly during limited in-person training.
• Strengthening nurse readiness is vital for maintaining clinical skill proficiency.