Practice of the training program for ophthalmic specialist nurses in Zhejiang Province of China

AIMS: To explore the effects of training programs for ophthalmic specialist nurses in Zhejiang Province of China. METHODS: The training program included one month of theoretical training and three months of practical clinical training. The Two-Tutor system was used in training. The training contents were mainly set up around four modules: specialty knowledge and clinical skills, management, clinical teaching, and nursing research. We used theoretical examination, clinical practice assessment and trainee evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the training program. Before and after the training, the trainees’ core competence was assessed by a homemade questionnaire. RESULTS: In total, 48 trainees from 7 provinces (municipalities) in China participated in the training program. All trainees passed theoretical and clinical practice examinations and trainee evaluations. Their core competencies were significantly improved after training (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This training program for ophthalmic specialist nurses is scientific and effective in improving nurses’ ability to provide ophthalmic specialist nursing care.