IMPROVING STAFF PERFORMANCE THROUGH TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY OF RIDGE HOSPITAL, ACCRA

ABSTRACT The study examined the improvement of staff performance through training and development at the Ridge Hospital. The problem was negative attitude observed toward patients by some of the nursing staff. The data were obtained from semi-structured interview and questionnaire (5 – point likert scaled questionnaire). The study design was a case study. The sample for the study involved fifty nurses and ten management staff. The data were analyzed using frequency tables and percentages The study found that training and development needs of nursing staff were to improve upon staff interpersonal skills, skills and knowledge at work, acquire more skills and new knowledge to improve output of work and gaining more skills and knowledge in patients and diseases management, prevention and control, also to enhance quality staff patient relationship and knowing new trends in the management of HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, cholera, infection prevention among others and emergency and anesthesia training. Also, the study found that training and development programmes of nursing staff were seminar, understudy training, job rotation, mentorship, workshops, refresher courses, job orientation, conferences and special meetings. Furthermore, the study found that training and development motivate nursing staff to work harder, to adjust to new situations, to assist student nurses and boost their morale to asses and plan with students for a better care for the patients. Workshops on positive attitudes toward work were considered relevant since training and development was not panacea for improving staff performance.