Influence of training on performance of nursing officers, in Nyeri County, Kenya

Abstract

Purpose: The management of human resources in healthcare institution is essential to enable the delivery of efficient and effective medical services and to achieve patient satisfaction. Training and development is most effective in motivating and retaining high quality human resources within healthcare organization. This study therefore sought to establish the influence of training on the performance of nursing officers, in Nyeri County, Kenya. Methodology: This study adopted a cross sectional descriptive research design. The respondents constituted all nursing staffs and managers in Nyeri County Public Health facilities and at the County Director’s Office. Stratified random sampling was used to come up with a sample of 248 respondents. Data was collected using questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used in the analysis of data with the help of SPSS. Chi-square analysis was used to establish relationships. Findings: The study found that training of nurses was conducted but there was a limitation in the diversity of approaches used. There was a significant relationship (χ2= 34.500, df=12, p=0.001, v=0.422) between training and the performance of nursing officers, in Nyeri County. The study concluded that training influences the performance of nursing officers, in Nyeri County, Kenya. Specifically, the lack of adequate training is a drawback in service delivery. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommends that training programs in the health sector should therefore be reviewed in order to employ more techniques in the training of nurses.