Factors Affecting Nursing Students Knowledge Regarding Preoperative Nursing Care

Abstract

Background: Preoperative competence is a crucial aspect of nursing student’s education to improve the quality of care and patient safety. It assists nursing students in maintaining and enhancing their practice by determining strength and areas that should be developed. Purpose: This study aims to assess the level of nursing students’ knowledge regarding preoperative nursing care and determine the most influencing demographic variables. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design using an online self-administered questionnaire was utilised among 202 nursing students selected by simple random sampling. The Perceived Preoperative Nursing Care Competence Scale for Nursing Students (PPreCC-NS) was used to assess the perceived preoperative nursing care competence of nursing students. Descriptive statistics were obtained, and multiple regression was used for data analysis. Results: The overall level of perceived preoperative nursing care competence was adequate 99.09 (SD = 10.81). The highest mean score was recorded for ability to fulfil legal responsibilities and adherence to ethical principles (M = 23.6, SD = 2.53). The lowest mean score was obtained for research and professional development (M = 17.6, SD = 2.60). The regression analysis showed that place of residency explained significantly about 4.53% of the variance in the nursing students’ knowledge regarding preoperative nursing care, and it was the strongest predictor (B = 0.218, p = 0.002). Conclusion: The perceived level of preoperative nursing care among nursing students was found to be adequate and associated with place of residence. Future research should be conducted to explore factors affecting nursing students’ preoperative competence in different cultures and contexts.