The motivation for raising the qualifications on the first-cycle extramural studies and evaluation of the preparation of nurses receiving the Bachelor’s Degree for providing professional health care

Abstract

THE MOTIVATION FOR RAISING THE QUALIFICATIONS ON THE FIRST-CYCLE EXTRAMURAL STUDIES AND EVALUATION OF THE PREPARATION OF NURSES RECEIVING THE BACHELOR’S DEGREE FOR PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL HEALTH CARE

Introduction. The current situation in Poland associated with the changes taking place in the various areas of social life, brought about the necessity of adapting the education system, including vocational studies, to the labour market needs, as well as to the international requirements.
Integration with the European Union contributed significantly to the education of health care professionals, especially nurses and midwives.
So-called bridging supplementary studies for nurses and midwives were initiated in order to increase and complement their professional qualifications and to obtain by them a Bachelor of nursing. System project entitled: "Vocational training of nurses and midwives within the bridging studies" gave a tremendous opportunity to tens of thousands of nurses and midwives for gratuitous complementation of their education. Education at the university level contributed to the enhancement of motivation to further raising of the level of professional competence by the nurses, and an obtained diploma was recognized in all European Union countries.

Aim. Aim of this study was to investigate the motivation for raising the qualifications on the first-cycle extramural studies and preparation evaluation of the nurses receiving the Bachelor's Degree for the exercise of professional health care.

Material and methods. The study was conducted among two hundred nurses working in four hospitals from Małopolska, who had completed bridging studies in nursing, and had received a Bachelor's Degree in nursing. 
The method of diagnostic survey as a tool used a questionnaire containing 21 questions on topics of motivation and values resulting from the professional skills of nurses.

Results. The vast majority of respondents treated the completion of the extramural studies as an expression of personal need for a professional development, and nearly one fifth felt that it was a conscious plan of the career development. For a minor percentage of respondents motivation to start the education on the higher level studies was a requirement made by the employer. Receiving a Bachelor's Degree made nearly half of the respondents want to take responsibility for their own further development, and one fifth of the participants of the research was planning to continue their education on the postgraduate studies. According to the respondents, the nursing care provided by staff with the higher qualifications had a higher level, at work the new methods were used, and the feeling of safety in patients increased.

Conclusions. Completion of the first-cycle extramural studies had a beneficial effect on the shaping of the personal development of nurses, strengthened the position of nurses in the therapeutic team, affected the independence and the greater self-confidence in their work. What is worth mentioning, for the most of the respondents, the participation in the studies influenced the development of empathy attitude towards the patient.