Background: Exposure to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats and hazards can have fatal or disabling consequences. One of the most risky groups in terms of secondary contamination in CBRN exposure is healthcare workers. Nurses need to have several competencies to be able to respond correctly to people exposed to CBRN agents and to protect themselves from secondary contamination.
Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a Bloom’s Mastery Learning Model-based Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Threat and Hazards Preparedness Program for nursing students (MLM-CBRN Preparedness Program) as a means for improving knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy and skills.
Design: A parallel-group trial design was used.
Methods: A total of 104 4th-year nursing students were randomized into intervention and control groups. The data from the participants were collected before the intervention, immediately after the intervention and in the 1st and 3rd months after the intervention.
Results: After the intervention, a significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy scores. It was seen that there was a significant difference between the pre-intervention measurement (1st measurement) and the 2nd, 3rd and 4th measurements (Table 2). This was due to the increasing scores of the intervention group (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: It shows that the MLM-CBRN Preparedness Program is effective in increasing the knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy and skill development of student nurses about CBRN threats and dangers.