Competence profiles of recently registered nurses working in intensive and emergency settings

• Published in: Journal of nursing management Vol. 15; no. 8; pp. 792 - 800
• Main Authors: SALONEN, ANNE H., KAUNONEN, MARJA, MERETOJA, RIITTA, TARKKA, MARJA-TERTTU
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.11.2007
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Analysis of Variance; Attitude of Health Personnel; Clinical Competence - standards; Critical Care; Education, Nursing, Continuing; Emergency Nursing - education; Emergency Nursing - standards; Employee Performance Appraisal; evaluation research; Female; Finland; Humans; Inservice Training; intensive care; Job Satisfaction; Male; Middle Aged; Needs Assessment; nurse competence; Nurse's Role - psychology; Nursing; Nursing Education Research; Nursing Evaluation Research; Nursing Methodology Research; Nursing Staff, Hospital - education; Nursing Staff, Hospital - psychology; Nursing Staff, Hospital - standards; Preceptorship; Self Efficacy; Self-Assessment; Surveys and Questionnaires; Finland
• ISSN: 0966-0429; 1365-2834
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2934.2007.00768.x

Background  Preceptorship is an essential method of supporting nurse competence, guaranteeing high quality care and increasing job satisfaction. Aim  To describe recently registered nurses’ perceptions of their competence level, and to identify factors influencing these perceptions. Method  The survey was conducted by using Meretoja's Nurse Competence Scale. The sample comprised 235 registered nurses working in intensive and emergency settings. The data were analysed by using statistical methods. Results  Nurses’ self‐assessed competence level ranged from moderate to good. A statistically significant association was seen between competence level and age, length of current work experience and the frequency of using competencies. Conclusions  The results shed useful light on the educational needs of nurses and provide important clues for the development of preceptorship programmes. The Nurse Competence Scale proved to be a reliable and valid instrument in assessing the competence of recently registered nurses. Implications for nursing management  We recommend that management strategies be developed to enhance and support positive learning environments for competence development. We recommend preceptorship programmes based on systematic competence assessments made by nurses themselves, their preceptors and managers.