Clinical assessment skills: is this relevant to nursing?

Abstract

The Grampians Regional Palliative Care team developed a series of Clinical Skill study days to assist nurses develop and maintain their clinical skills and knowledge in the palliative care setting. The study days attracted over one hundred nurses, addressing the fundamental principles of clinical assessment in palliative care, and focusing on respiratory, abdominal, neurological and cognitive assessment. A clinical research project was undertaken to assess skill retention based on a questionnaire developed to reflect lecture content. This was completed by participants at the commencement and conclusion of the study day, and six weeks post study day. Results indicated that nurses had limited knowledge of clinical assessment skills priot to the study days but increased knowledge and confidence undertaking clinical assessment post audit.