Comparison of self-assessed competence and experience among critical care nurses

o'leary j. (2012) Journal of Nursing Management  20, 607–614 Comparison of self-assessed competence and experience among critical care nurses Aim To determine the level of self-assessed nursing competence and the relationship to age and experience in nursing. Background Nursing competence is a concern for all health-care stakeholders. Methods to measure competence have been evaluated worldwide. There is little agreement about the development or reliable measure of competence. Exploring these relationships can identify strategies for education, retention, professional growth and potentially affect patient outcome measures. Method The Nurse Competence Scale (NCS) was completed by 101 critical care nurses. Statistical methods were used to analyse the data. Results The nurses self-assessed level of competence ranged from good to excellent along with an increased frequency of using competencies. Statistically significant relationships were found among the variables. Conclusions Measurable, significant relationships exist among the variables. The NCS proved to be a valid and reliable instrument to measure competence. Implications for nursing management Objective and reliable assessment of nursing competence is an important measure for leadership and education. Further studies to identify other factors affecting the nurses’ experience and the effect on competence will help to develop and promote supportive strategies.     

Psychosocial work environment and cross‐cultural competence among native and foreign‐born registered nurses

Cross‐cultural competence is an essential component of the nursing profession, but little is known about the specific psychosocial work characteristics that potentially promote or hinder such competence. In the present study, psychosocial work characteristics were based on Karasek's Job Demand—Control Model. The researchers examined whether Karasek's psychosocial work characteristics, such as high‐strain jobs, high‐strain isolated jobs, active jobs, and active collective jobs, are associated with cross‐cultural competence (empathy, skills, positive attitudes, and motivation), and whether there are differences between native and foreign‐born registered nurses (RN) in these potential associations. A random sample of 744 native RNs (91.0% women) and a total sample (n = 212) of foreign‐born RNs (94.3% women) working in Finland were used. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed with a series of multiple linear regression analyses. High‐strain and high‐strain isolated jobs were negatively associated with all four dimensions of cross‐cultural competence. Active collective jobs, but not active jobs, were positively associated with cross‐cultural skills. There were no differences between native and migrant nurses in these associations. The psychosocial work environment is associated with cross‐cultural competence in both native and migrant nurses. Improvements in psychosocial working conditions, especially minimizing negative factors in the work environment, such as high‐strain and high‐strain isolated jobs, may need to be considered as a part of the efforts aimed to enhance cross‐cultural competence among nursing personnel.     

Development of competence scale for senior clinical nurses

Aim: The aim of this study was to develop a new scale, the Competence Scale for Senior Clinical Nurses (CS‐SCN), to assess and evaluate senior clinical nurses in hospitals, and to confirm the validity and reliability of the scale. Method: A cross‐sectional questionnaire survey was undertaken at a hospital in Japan, using an anonymous self‐administered questionnaire administered to clinical nurses (n = 374). A useable sample of 218 was achieved, which was used in the analysis. Statistical analysis examined exploratory/confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency, and construct validity. Results: A five factor solution with 22 items was extracted for nursing competence in senior clinical nurses, which was the interpretable questionnaire. In the confirmatory factor analysis, the indices of fitness supported these results. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.93 for the total score and varied between 0.63 and 0.90 in the five factors. Five factors emerged from an oblique factor analysis, with a cumulative variance of 66.7%: “role accomplishment”; “self‐management”; “research”; “practice and coordination”; and “work implementation”. The five factors had only a moderate correlation (0.30–0.77, P < 0.001) with each other, which indicated construct validity. Conclusion: The CS‐SCN, a concise scale to measure and evaluate the competence of senior clinical nurses, was developed. Results suggest initial support for the new instrument as a measure of competence of senior clinical nurses, but it must be further refined, tested, and evaluated. Both the validity and reliability of the scale were verified. Future studies using the CS‐SCN might lead to improvement in the competence of senior clinical nurses.     

护士核心能力的研究进展

通过介绍护士核心能力的概念、意义、测量方法及培养方法的相关研究内容,指出应依据护士核心能力体系构建合理的评估系统,并制订针对性的培训计划,分层次培养护士核心能力。     

高效能病区护士长才能的质性研究

目的：探讨研究高效能病区护士长需具备的才能,为今后构建病区护士长培训内容体系提供依据。方法：采用质性研究中的内容分析法,对广州市两家三级甲等医院的9名科护士长进行深度访谈。访谈结束后,对照记录及录音材料形成文字文件,对所获得的资料进行归纳整理和分析。结果：高效能病区护士长需具备的才能包括勇于承担、全情投入的积极态度;公平公正的正面素质;善于自我管理,能理性分析、适应压力,良好的人际沟通能力,善导下属,有前瞻性,创新的思维及很好的执行力,同时具备危机管理、风险管理的意识。结论：高效能病区护士长所具备的才能是多方面、多角度的,研究的结果有利于临床病区护士长的选拔、绩效考核及作为制订培训内容的依据。     

Research Article: Cultural competence among Swedish child health nurses after specific training: A randomized trial

An urgent need to improve Swedish primary child health‐care nurses' cultural competence was revealed by previous research among nurses working in, and immigrant parents visiting, primary child health‐care services. The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent to which specific training affected how nurses rated their own cultural competence, difficulties, and concerns and to study how the nurses evaluated the training. Conducted as a randomized controlled trial, the effects on a study sample of 51 nurses were assessed by questionnaires in a pre‐ and post‐study design. The findings indicated that the 3 days of training were appreciated by the nurses and had some effects on their cultural competence, difficulties, and concerns. The training might have had positive effects on the nurses' working conditions as they rated it to have an impact on their ability to cope with the demands of their work activities in the health services. These effects are presumed to contribute to an improved quality of the health services, with a reduction in the risk for health‐care disparities among children of immigrant parents.     

Nurses' competence in advising and supporting clients to cease smoking: a survey among Finnish nurses

The article describes the results of a survey of Finnish nurses (n = 882). The purpose of the study was to describe how nurses' education, working experience and their own smoking habits relate to their self-reported competence in advising and supporting clients to cease smoking. Nurses evaluated their skills fairly highly, but did not believe that advice alone was helpful to clients who wished to cease smoking. Nurses had minimal knowledge of smoking substitutes. Lower general education, a fairly short time from graduation and a history of smoking were positively related to nurses' competence to guide clients. Nurses who smoked daily were found to have better skills in giving advice and support than their non-smoking colleagues. The results have implications for the design of smoking cessation programmes. More education and guidance is required for nurses, so that they can develop their understanding and a positive view as to the effectiveness of smoking cessation programmes.     

临床男护士灾害护理核心能力及影响因素的分析

目的了解临床男护士灾害护理核心能力现状及影响因素,为开展男护士灾害护理继续教育与培训提供参考。方法对武汉市2所三级甲等医院的176名临床男护士灾害护理核心能力及其相关因素进行研究分析。结果临床男护士灾害护理核心能力得分为(2.69±0.64)分,得分最高维度为灾害过程护理(2.86±0.72)分,最低维度为灾害护理专业发展(2.28±0.80)分;有无灾害护理经历、是否参加过灾害护理培训是影响临床男护士灾害护理核心能力的主要因素。结论临床男护士灾害护理核心能力较低,突出表现为灾害护理专业发展方面能力较低。建议对临床男护士进行系统的灾害护理教育与培训,结合临床男护士有无灾害护理经历及灾害护理培训经历,有针对性地进行灾害护理救援培训,以促进其灾害护理核心能力的提升。     

Evaluation of a cultural competence educational programme

AIM: This paper reports a study, which evaluated the effectiveness of a cultural competence educational programme to increase Public Health Nurses' cultural knowledge. BACKGROUND: Cultural competence has great significance for practising nurses and has become a priority and commitment of the Nursing profession. Public Health Nurses interact regularly with clients from a variety of culturally diverse backgrounds. Thus, there is a need for an integrated programme with theoretical and experiential knowledge related to cultural competence for PHNs to enhance their knowledge and skills to better meet the needs of the population. DESIGN: This study used a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods for data collection. A one-group Repeated Measures design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the educational programme. METHOD: The sample consisted of 76 Public Health Nurses who attended a cultural competence educational programme, which was offered over five consecutive weeks, of 2 hours duration and reinforced by a booster session at 1 month postimplementation of the programme. Cultural knowledge was measured on the Cultural Knowledge Scale, which was a valid, reliable, 25-item Likert scale. Data were collected at four points in time and were analysed with repeated measures analysis of variance. Qualitative data were content analysed. RESULTS: Findings revealed that the intervention was effective [Wilks' Lambda was F(3,69) = 142.02, P < 0.01] in increasing the nurses' cultural knowledge. Qualitative results complemented the quantitative findings. Participants reported that the programme was effective in increasing their cultural knowledge. CONCLUSION: Although Public Health Nurses, who attended the educational programme increased their cultural knowledge, these findings are not generalizable to nurses working in other settings. However, the programme has clinical utility and could be adapted and given to nurses in other settings.     

A model of practice to address cultural competence in rehabilitation nursing.

A position statement developed by the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN), Appropriate Inclusion of Rehabilitation Nurses Wherever Rehabilitation is Provided, stated that nurses are an essential part of a client's rehabilitation because they provide holistic care and "attend to the full range of human experiences and responses to health and illness" (Association of Rehabilitation Nurses, 1996, p.1). Rehabilitation nurses must become strongly aware of the role that culture plays in this process. This article presents a conceptual model of practice with which to address cultural competence in rehabilitation nursing. The model's constructs of cultural awareness, cultural knowledge, cultural encounters, cultural skill, and cultural desire are discussed. Examples from the field of rehabilitation nursing are presented in the discussion of these constructs.     

临床护士跨专业协作能力现状及影响因素分析

目的 调查临床护士的跨专业协作能力现状,分析其影响因素。方法 采用便利抽样法,选取长沙市2所综合性三级甲等医院的297名护士作为研究对象。采用一般资料问卷、跨专业合作学习准备度量表和千叶跨专业协作能力量表进行现状调查,并分析临床护士跨专业协作能力的影响因素。结果 297名护士临床护士跨专业协作能力总分为（122.41±8.56）分,跨专业合作学习准备度总分为（70.16±5.99）分。Pearson相关分析显示,护士跨专业协作能力与跨专业合作学习准备度得分呈正相关（r=0.524, P<0.01）。多元线性回归分析结果显示,跨专业合作学习准备度、跨专业团队合作经历、院外交流经历是临床护士跨专业协作能力的影响因素（P<0.05）。结论 临床护士的跨专业协作能力处于中等偏上水平。护理管理者应采取针对性措施改善临床护士的跨专业合作学习态度,开展多种形式的跨专业团队合作培训,积极支持临床护士外出进修,从而有效提高临床护士的跨专业协作能力。