Training of acute XXXX resource nurses. Knowledge, perceived confidence, and role.

@entity1 @entity911
Most nurses function as generalists; however, some function in "expert" roles based on informal training as Resource Nurses. Training usually focuses on assessment and management of a specific problem, with the goal of creating a readily available "expert" for every unit. The primary activity of the Resource Nurse is to provide expert care, education, and consultation for @entity1 , families, and staff. The Iowa-Veterans Affairs Nursing Research Consortium (IVANRC) addressed the need to manage acutely confused/delirious clients by training staff nurse volunteers (N = 129) from all units of the four Iowa Veterans Affairs facilities to act as unit-based acute @entity911 Resource Nurses (ACRNs). A day-long workshop included didactic content addressing etiology and presentation of acute @entity911 (AC), use of the IVANRC protocol to assess for AC, and basic information on treatment and management of AC. The nurses also participated in an efficacy-based experiential learning program on AC assessment that involved demonstrating assessment of AC and role enactment practice exercises in which ACRNs practiced the assessment. A test of knowledge of AC and perceived level of confidence in assessing acutely confused @entity1 was administered before and after completion of the program. Paired t tests comparing pre- and posttest scores showed that knowledge and confidence significantly increased for the nurses as a result of their participation in the educational program. Eighteen months later, a second program was conducted to update current ACRNs and train additional RNs to enact this role. Pre- and posttest scores were obtained, with paired t tests showing a significant increase in knowledge for the @entity1 . Twenty-four (49%) of the second program attendees had attended the first program. These @entity1 had significantly higher scores on the second program pretest than those @entity1 who had not attended the previous program, indicating a retention of knowledge from the first program.
