Do Nurses Really need Physics? (Analysis of the Results of a Written Test)
Abstract
Zuzana Balazsiova
The aim of the work was to assess the physics literacy of 266 practising registered nurses-studying for a master’s degree in nursing; a written test was used to determine whether they were able to apply the knowledge of physics that they had acquired in their studies to solve model problems in nursing practice. The results indicated that: 1. The nurses’ physics and technical literacy was insufficient and, in our view, does not meet the needs of the present time, in which health care establishments are making increasing use of instruments and equipment. 2. Errors were identified in the solutions to practical nursing problems that could have had a negative effect on patients’ condition in real practice. Student nurses’ knowledge of physics could be improved by changing the way in which biophysics is taught in the nursing curriculum.