Effectiveness of pre –clinical competency certification program on improving knowledge of clinical practice among nursing internship students

Nursing Competency is basic to nursing and significant parameter for freshmen nurses’ job readiness to begin their career in health care. A study was conducted to assess the level of knowledge on clinical practice and also to assess the effectiveness of Pre-Clinical Competency Certification program(PCCP) among nursing internship students. A sample of 84 nursing interns were selected using purposive sampling technique and subjected for one group pre test - post test design over a period of 3 months. PCCP was designed with 15 basic Modules which were validated and implemented. Af ter pretest and orientation; participants received PCCP for 30 hours with didactic, experiential and objective structured practical learning (OSPL).Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential analysis to define the level of knowledge on clinical practice and to assess the effectiveness of PCCP. The study showed that there was an increase in the mean knowledge score with a significant level of p < 0.001 and hence the study hypothesis is accepted. The PCCP was found to have immediate effect on nursing interns’ competency.