A Model of Integrated Buddhist Nurse Competency Development of the Naval Medical Department

Abstract

The objectives of this research are 1) to analytically study the general situations in developing nurse capacity in the Naval Medical Department; 2) to study the conceptual ideas of theories on developing the nurse capacity, and the Buddhadhammas enhancing the development of nurse capacity in the Naval Medical Department; and (3) to present Buddhist Integrative Model for developing the Nurse Capacity of Naval Medical Department.

The research employed mixed qualitative and quantitative methods. The in-depth, interview of 25 monks and lay people, and the questionnaires of 225 nurses of the Naval Medical Department. The statisticsused are percentage, mean, and standard deviation.

From the studies, it is found that:

1) In relation with the general situations of the development of nurse capacity, it is found that:- in ethical aspect, there are lacks of evaluation, indicatos, basic information collection, and cultivation of spirit; in vocational aspect, there are lacks of pride in nurse profession, continuity of characteristic developing plan, and no proper role model; in communication aspect, there are lacks of communication skills, technological knowledge for communication, language and information providing related to the profession; and in the aspect of relationship with the service receivers, there are lacks of reinforcement, creation of motivation, giving rewards, life-long process of learning, and no promotion of the profession.

2) The conceptual ideas and theories of capacity development to be used as directions for extracting such energies of knowledge, skills, individual potentialities, abilities and other characteristics of the nurse profession for working efficiently, etc. depend on the development system according to the correct process and means in ensuring the organization for developing its personnel's learning; the practice of the Four IddhipadaDhamma or the Four Paths of Accomplishment with the more efficient process, the more it will help develop the nurse capacity for working efficiently in accordance with Buddhism. Accordingly, the nurses will love a lot more of their profession, get good effort with no impatience for working and choosing to serve patients, introspect to improve their work for maximum efficiency. This concludes that Iddhipada Dhamma is the tool to help enhancing the nurse capacity set by the organization and it can also help other activities be fulfilled their purposes, too.