title: Perceived competence and comfort in respiratory protection: results of a nationwide survey of occupational health nurses.
abstract: In response to the Institute of Medicine (2011) report Occupational Health Nurses and Respiratory Protection: Improving Education and Training, a nationwide survey was conducted in May 2012 to assess occupational health nurses' educational preparation, roles, responsibilities, and training needs in respiratory protection. More than 2,000 occupational health nurses responded; 83% perceived themselves as competent, proficient, or expert in respiratory protection, reporting moderate comfort with 12 respiratory program elements. If occupational health nurses had primary responsibility for the respiratory protection program, they were more likely to perceive higher competence and more comfort in respiratory protection, after controlling for occupational health nursing experience, highest education, occupational health nursing certification, industry sector, Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare membership, taking a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health spirometry course in the prior 5 years, and perceiving a positive safety culture at work. These survey results document high perceived competence and comfort in respiratory protection. These findings support the development of targeted educational programs and interprofessional competencies for respiratory protection.
authors: Department of Community Health Systems, School of Nursing, University of California San Francisco, 94143-0608, USA. barbara.burgel@nursing.ucsf.edu
authors: Barbara J
authors: BJ
authors: Burgel
authors: Debra
authors: D
authors: Novak
authors: Candace M
authors: CM
authors: Burns
authors: Annette
authors: A
authors: Byrd
authors: Holly
authors: H
authors: Carpenter
authors: MaryAnn
authors: M
authors: Gruden
authors: Ann
authors: A
authors: Lachat
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Taormina
mesh_terms: D002568:Certification; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000592:standards; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009785:Occupational Health Nursing / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards*; D012134:Respiratory Protective Devices; D014481:United States