Vaccination competence of graduating public health nurse students.

Background: Vaccination is a globally significant health prevention method implemented by health care professionals around the world. To date, however, there has been little research measuring vaccinators' vaccination competence.

Aim: This paper evaluates the vaccination competence of graduating Finnish public health nurse students in order to develop teaching in vaccinators' basic and continuing education.

Methods: Data were collected using a structured instrument developed for this study. The participants were graduating public health nurse students (n=129). The measurement focused on the students' self-assessment of their vaccination competence using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), whereas their vaccination knowledge was tested with a knowledge test.

Results: Students assessed their level of vaccination competence as high. According to the self-assessment, their best competence area was achieved in the outcome of the implementation of vaccination. The students' poorest competence area was displayed in their qualities as vaccinators. In the knowledge test, the students distinguished vaccination recommendations and common contraindications well, but managing an anaphylactic reaction as well as knowing the names of vaccines showed room for improvement.

Conclusions: Vaccination competence can be measured by means of the structured instrument we developed. In Finland, more vaccination education in basic and continuing education is needed to maintain and develop vaccination competence.