[Quality of procedures delivered by nursing assistants].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the quality of nursing care provided in inhalation, peripheral venipuncture, and administration of intra-muscular medication procedures in the context of professional training of nursing assistants.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was carried out in two phases among nursing staff (nurse assistants as well as unlicensed nursing personnel), in three hospitals in the state of Bahia, Northeastern Brazil, in October and December 2001 and 2002. Data was collected by means of direct observation of task performance and analysis of the median values of performance. A convenience sample was stratified according to professional category and work unit.


RESULTS
There was a quality improvement or maintenance while performing the procedure of inhalation, with an overall median score equal to or above 70%. Median scores were reduced for peripheral venipuncture and administration of intra-muscular medication. Analysis of the differences in the procedures indicated that performance improved regarding basic procedural steps but worsened regarding the interaction with the patient. As to the nursing teams, those in Hospital 1, where there were better working conditions, had the best performance, and those in Hospital 2, where there were the worst working conditions, showed the worst performance.


CONCLUSIONS
Educational processes among nurse assistants implemented per se in poor working conditions are not able to bring about quality improvement of professional performance.
Peduzzi
Marina
M
Departamento de Orientação Profissional, Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar 419, 05403-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil. marinape@usp.br
Anselmi
Maria Luiza
ML
França Junior
Ivan
I
Santos
Claudia Benedita dos
CB
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D009728:Nursing Assistants / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards*; D009731:Nursing Audit / Q000379:methods*; D009738:Nursing Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D011677:Punctures / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric