[Hospital nurses' perspective on academic nursing education: a cross-sectional study in hospitals in the northwestern part of Germany].

Hospital nurses' perspective on academic nursing education: a cross-sectional study in hospitals in the northwestern part of Germany Abstract.

BACKGROUND: Currently, there is an increasing need for highly qualified nurses in Germany. Against this background, an academic nursing education is frequently demanded in order to meet the high level of competences nurses must fulfil.

AIM: This cross-sectional study aimed to explore nurses' attitudes towards academic nursing education as well as their self-reported scientific competences.

METHODS: Based on a standardized questionnaire, we surveyed 547 hospital nurses from six different hospitals in the northwestern part of Germany. By means of a bivariate analysis and two multivariate regression models, we examined the influence of the independent variables "professional position", "degree of academic education", "age" and "gender" on the dependent variables "attitude towards academic nursing education" and "scientific competences". The multivariate analysis included three co-variates analysing different ways of support of academic nursing education within the hospitals.

RESULTS: Especially nursing staff who has completed a study programme, is currently studying or hold executive positions has a more positive attitude towards academic education than its colleagues have. Moreover, opportunities for advancement within the hospitals influence the staff's attitude positively. With regard to the assessment of scientific competences, the analysis shows that a completed or currently conducted study programme as well as an executive position have a positive influence. In addition, male nursing staff, young nursing staff and staff with access to scientific articles assess their scientific skills more positively than their colleagues do.

CONCLUSIONS: The attitudes towards academic education are still heterogeneous and influenced by different factors. Accordingly, the worth of academic education needs to be demonstrated.