Objective:

Because of advancements in science and technology nurses need to have and competently use the latest nursing knowledge and skills. Accordingly the importance of continuing education programs cannot be denied. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of basic nursing practise education program on nurses’ knowledge level.

Material and Method:

The research population was all 437 nurses employed at a training hospital and the sample was 160 chosen randomly. The data for this research were obtained with a participants’ demographics form and a knowledge test given as a pre and posttest. Data were analyzed with Anova, Tukey, and t test with SPSS

Result:

Half (49,4 %) were 20-29 years old, 48,8 % were health occupational high school and 28,8 % university graduates. Half (46,9 %) had 3-10 years of professional experience. A statistically significant increase in the knowledge test was found between the pretest to the posttest mean scores (p<0,01) (pretest x=71,87±10,31; posttest x=95,05±6,32). There were statistically significant increases in all six subjects between the pretest and posttest score means (p<0,01). There were statistically significant differences in pretest and posttest score means for age group, length of professional experience, area of employment, and nursing education (p<0,05). The nurses in the 50+ age group had the lowest increase in knowledge level and those in the intensive care unit had the highest pretest and posttest scores.

Conclusion:

According to the data obtained an increase was determined in all nurses’ knowledge levels at the conclusion of the education.

Keywords: continuing education, inservice training, evaluation, nursing practices