Novice public health nurses' home-visit skills in Japan: A one-year longitudinal study

Objective: This study aimed to clarify the status of novice public health nurses' home-visit skills during their first year of practice. Design and sample: A one-year longitudinal observational study was conducted with 80 novice public health nurses. The participants were recruited from the four Japanese prefectures and their affiliated municipalities selected by using stratified sampling. Measurements: Self-administered questionnaires were distributed three times between April 2016 and March 2017, asking about home-visit experiences, understandings of the significance of home-visit, and the levels of home-visit skills. Data were analyzed with paired t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Results: All of twenty skills' self-ratings significantly increased between the fourth and eighth months; five skills continually increased between the eighth and twelfth months. Both of Physical Assessment and Relationship Development Skills improved to the "Can do, almost by myself" level at the twelfth month; other skills remained at the "Can do, with a little advice" level. Conclusion: Although novice public health nurses improved to conducted home-visits independently, they didn't perceive themselves as being able to do so in their first year. Therefore, through preparing guideline, organizations should provide intentional support to assist their skill acquisition during their first, and even in their second year.