Education needs for clinical nursing practice using an Importance-Performance Analysis and Borich needs assessment model: Focused on nurses in the general wards of a tertiary hospital

Purpose: This study’s aim was to confirm the importance and performance of the clinical practice of nurses working in the general wards of a tertiary hospital and to analyze their educational needs.Methods: The study employed a descriptive research design, and a self-reported questionnaire was developed and used for nurses in a tertiary hospital. Data were collected from July 22 to July 29, 2022, analyzed by an independent t-test, paired t-test, and one-way ANOVA for the importance and performance of each clinical nursing practice according to general characteristics, and then a post hoc verification was performed by Scheffé’s test. An Importance-Performance Analysis and Borich needs assessment model were used to analyze clinical nursing education needs.Results: Clinical nursing practice performance showed a significant difference according to length of total clinical career, time working in current department, and preceptor experience. According to the results of the Importance-Performance Analysis, neurological evaluation, and nursing intervention, artificial respirator and high-flow oxygen inhalation nursing, chemotherapy, emergency nursing, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation were identified as belonging to the “concentrate here” quadrant. All these items ranked in the top 10 in the Borich needs assessment model.Conclusion: Based on these results, the current education system should be reviewed, and short and long term education strategies based on educational needs should be established to strengthen the competence of nurses.