Continuing education for coronary care nurses.

Coronary care nurses were surveyed to determine their perceptions of their initial training and ongoing continuing education. Eighty-one per cent (162 of 200) completed formal training, 65 per cent (105 of 162) felt this training adequately prepared them, but only 42 percent (84 of 200) successfully passed a test of competency prior to beginning work. Nurses' perceptions of their abilities were compared to actual performance of physical assessment and no significant differences were noted. Continuing education programs were ongoing for 57 per cent (114 of 200) of the nurses but physician participation was rare. Physician involvement in the overall management of CCUs was satisfactory for only 40.5 per cent of nurses (81 of 200). In view of these data, physicians and nurses have been remiss in the training and evaluation of coronary care nurses and must work together to define educational objectives and institute evaluation mechanisms. It is through this type of joint cooperation that the quality of care will improve as will morale.