Curriculum Evaluation of the Master Program in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Plan B, Faculty of Nursing, Khon Kaen University

Abstract

This descriptive study aimed to compare competencies of nurses who graduated from the Master Program in Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing (Plan B), Khon Kaen University, as perceived by themselves and their hospital directors/ head nurses. The sample included 60 nurses who graduated during 2004-2007, and 56 hospital directors/ head nurses. The instruments included the Nursing Competency Evaluation. Descriptive statistics and t-test were used to analyze the data. The study found significant difference of the overall nursing competencies as evaluated by nurses themselves and their hospital directors/ head nurses at the .05 level. Considering each item of the competencies, it was found that nurses evaluated themselves at a good to very good level in all items except one whereas the directors/ head nurses evaluated the nurses at a moderate to very good level.