Using QSEN to measure quality and safety knowledge, skills, and attitudes of experienced pediatric oncology nurses: an international study.
OBJECTIVE
This pilot study describes the development of an instrument to measure nursing quality knowledge, skills, and attitudes for practicing pediatric oncology nurses. Because many nurse leaders of academic centers are responsible for outcomes at both local and global level, ensuring nursing quality is critical, given the variability in practice outcomes.


METHODS
Quality Improvement Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes (QulSKA), a 73-item electronic questionnaire was developed using QSEN competencies; the six domains include: quality improvement (QI), safety, evidence-based practice, teamwork, patient-centered care, and informatics. Content validity was established by pediatric oncology, QI, and test-construction experts. Nurses from St Jude Children's Research Hospital and US and Latin American affiliate sites were surveyed.


RESULTS
Thirty-seven of 216 RNs surveyed participated in the study. The QulSKA inter-item correlation coefficient was 0.839 (P = .001). The mean knowledge score (based on 100) was 69.2 +/- 11.3. Scores were highest for safety (82.9%) and lowest for teamwork (48.6%). The mean skills rating was 3.3 +/- 0.74 (used 2-4 times). Lowest rated skills were in analysis and QI tools. The mean attitude rating was 3.8 +/- 0.25 (highly important).


CONCLUSIONS
Data suggest that QulSKA may be reliable to measure quality knowledge, skills, and attitudes among pediatric oncology nurses-nurses were knowledgeable in QI, yet they lacked skills in practice application.
Dycus
Paula
P
Methodist Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
McKeon
Leslie
L
D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D010372:Pediatrics; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D017751:Safety Management; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult