Evaluating Continuing Competency: A Challenge for Nursing

Abstract

Twenty-five nurse leaders met at an invitational conference in Texas to discuss professional nurse competency evaluation. Conference attendees who were statewide nursing leaders in practice, education, and administration identified ways to evaluate competency. Responses were recorded and clustered into the following patterns: (1) components of competency evaluation, (2) barriers and challenges to evaluating competency, and (3) recommendations for evaluating competency. Conference attendees reported competency includes the abilities to think in action, have confidence and clarity in decision making, and retrieve information throughout the career trajectory. Nurses must demonstrate the ability to access evidence-based information and synthesize it within the context of practice situations. Self-reflection and self-assessment are necessary components to competency evaluation for the improvement of nursing practice.

Congruence between nurse managers’ and nurses’ competence assessments: A correlation study

“…For example, the use of multi-method approaches and clinical specialty-related assessment tools are highly recommended in nurse competence assessment to increase the validity and reliability of the measurement. [12,39,40] Also factors which enhance and impede competence performance and its development should be further explored.…”

“…[31] Particularly managers' leadership style is seen as an enhancing or impeding factor in competence development. [40] Empowering supportiveness is a characteristic of good managers, and good relationships between managers and nurses enhance nurses' motivation to provide quality care. [3, 5-7, 23, 32, 35] Sense of achievement and self-regard also enhance nurses' motivation and professional development.…”

“…However, it should be noted that the defining and objective measurement of nurse competence has been proved to be difficult. [40] …”

A Competência Profissional Dos Enfermeiros. Um Estudo Em Hospitais Portugueses

“…Por outro lado, a avaliação pode ser definida como o processo pelo qual tentamos identificar ou determinar a adequação das competências a um assunto que diz respeito a uma esfera específica ou possível de atividade (Allen et al, 2008;Bellini et al, 2008). Segundo vários autores, o processo de avaliação e certificação de competências é um grande desafio para os profissionais de saúde, para garantir a segurança do paciente e qualidade dos cuidados prestados (Allen et al, 2008;Needleman et al, 2007).…”

“…Segundo vários autores, o processo de avaliação e certificação de competências é um grande desafio para os profissionais de saúde, para garantir a segurança do paciente e qualidade dos cuidados prestados (Allen et al, 2008;Needleman et al, 2007). Por essa razão, foram desenvolvidas várias ferramentas e metodologias para a avaliação de competências dos enfermeiros, incluindo a Nurse Competence Scale (NCS), adaptada para a população portuguesa por Oliveira, L. & Queirós, P. (2015).…”