Title :	Comparison of Nurses Production Costs between Continuing Nursing Program and General 
              Nursing Program and Impact of Continuing Nursing Program
Researcher : Wichit  Srisuphan, Chalorsri Dangpiam, Charinratana Bhudpuang  
Office of Researcher : Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University

Abstract

		The purposes of this study were to compare nurses' s production costs between continuing nursing program and general nursing program (4 -year)  , and to study the effect of the educational leave of absence situation of the technical nurses on their work. The sample consisted of 1) the 684 nursing students studying in continuing nursing programs at Bangkok Nursing College, Songkla Nursing College, Faculty of Nursing Mahidol University, and Faculty of Nursing Prince of Songkla University; 2) the 153 nursing directors of the technical nurses who were studying in the continuing nursing programs; and 3) the 4 administrators of nursing institutions. The research instruments included record forms, questionnaires, and indepth interview forms. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square, and content analysis.
		The results were as follow : The continuing nursing students spent average money for personal expenses in all items more than the general nursing students  at .05  significant level. The average costs of continuing nursing students were the tuition fee of 4,338.23 baht/person/ year and 40,000  baht/person/year for other expenses. Furthermore, the government also pays monthly salary for the continuing nursing students more than 5,000 baht/person. The average costs of general nursing students were the tuition fee of 2,493.44 baht/person/year and 26,000 bath/person/year for other expenses. During 1992 fiscal year, the government paid 43,380.36 baht for training of one nurse.
		Most of directors did not see the serious consequences related to work performance and management due to the study leave of technical nurses. However, some effects were found including the remained nurses were not satisfied with their increasing work load with decreasing level of morale. The nursing directors had to ask other personals who had less knowledge and skill to help in working. This resulted in decreasing the quality of nursing care.
		The opinions  of  4  administrators of nursing institutions relation to the continuing nursing program and the general nursing program found that the general nursing students performed better in their theoretical base knowledge but poorer in decision making compared to the continuing nursing students. However, their self confidence increased more in the fourth year. Some administrations said that the quality of nursing practice form both programs was not much different. Some reported that nurses from general nursing students programs had more quality or work than the nurses form continuing nursing programs. The continuing nursing program had affected the workload of instructors such as shortage of nursing instructors. Stress. And lack of time to develop themselves which create some effects on teaching and learning process as well as health care services. They suggested that nursing education program should be only the general nursing program.

Key words : Cost, nurse production, continuing nursing program, general nursing program.
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Nursing Newsletter, Vol.26(2), April - June 1999.