The Performance Evaluation of B.S. Nursing Graduates Based on Their Own Perspectives and Their Head Nurses in the Hospitals Affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2001

Introduction. One way to measure the impact of educational programs is the evaluation of graduates' performance in their workplace. The present study was conducted to evaluate B.S. nursing graduates' performance from the perspectives of their own and their head nurses in hospitals affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2001. Methods. This research was based on triangulation study and was carried out in two phases using two methods: In the first phase, in order to gather necessary data to design the questionnaire, Delphi method was used and in the second one, in order to carry out the very evaluation, Survey method with Parallel design was utilized. Sampling method was based on census and the study population consisted of two groups: 97 B.S. nursing graduates and 49 head nurses. A questionnaire composed of 6 performance dimensions was used to collect the data. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by content validity and the reliability was determined by Alpha-Kronbach. Results. Study findings were as follows: average performance evaluation score given by graduates was significantly higher than their head nurses', except for the education and research dimensions. Further, concerning the levels of good and excellent, the highest and lowest frequencies were respectively attributed to the nursing care (91.7%) and the education and research (42.3%) dimensions by graduates and to the professional development (67.3%) and the education and research (30.6%) dimensions by head nurses. Conclusion. Nursing graduates' low performance in educational and research areas can be improved by proper programming and cooperation between educational groups. Also, presenting continuing education concerning research and nurses' educational activities can fortify these performances.