Nurses' Experience of Professional Competence.

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Competence is a controversy issue in health care delivery system including nursing and its different educational, clinical and managerial fields. Although studies conducted around the world have proven how important competence is to nursing practice and high quality care, little information was found about how nurses experience the process of competence development. Therefore, it is very important to explore what nurses experienced when they are going to develop their competencies. The aim of this study was to investigate the process involved in nurses' professional development according their experiences. Methods: A grounded theory approach was chosen; data were collected through semi –structured, tape –recorded interview. Using a purposive follow by theoretical sampling thirty –six participants including twenty –seven clinical nurse and nurse manager, seven nurse students and two nurse instructor were interviewed. Each interview last twenty minutes to seventy –five minutes. Participant's observation was also conductor to enhance data collection quality. Data were analyzed using a constant comparative method. Findings: Data revealed that a multi –recursive process designated "the process of constant interaction", occurred in the nurses career to develop their competences. This process was found to be a complex, ongoing interpersonal dynamic between the nurse and his/ her world around and consist of five stages entitled: driving force recognition, making available appropriated necessities, experience, consolidation, and integration. A set of profound factors including, professional education, environment, personal characteristics, job –related issue and opportunities are to be influential on through of this process. Conclusion: According to findings, professional competence develops through a complex, multistage circular process which in turn is under influence of a set of personal, interpersonal, and extra –personal factors. Although the nurse is the key player of this process but the educational and employer organizations have pivotal responsibility in encouragement of nurses in pursuing the professional competence. Taking these responsibilities could result in improvement of quality of care, increase clients satisfaction; decrease cost of care and ultimately facilitates the process of achieving to better public health, as the main aim of these organizations. Although exploring the process of competence development among nurses was the main aim of current study but due attention to health related professions similarities, the findings of this study could be applicable in other health related professions.