title: Critical clinical competencies in undergraduate psychiatric-mental health nursing.
abstract: Clinical competencies in nursing education provide the foundation for the development of competencies in nursing practice. Literature pertaining to clinical competencies in psychiatric-mental health nursing is extremely sparse. The purpose of this study was to explore nurses' perceptions of undergraduate students' critical clinical competencies. A purposive sample of 18 nurses with experience in psychiatric care and nursing education completed a 198-item survey, which included eight criterion-referenced critical clinical competencies. The results, in which 80% of items were rated strongly agree or agree, have implications for nursing education, practice, and research. The results support the use of the items in the instrument as a pedagogical tool, as a guide in assessing and evaluating students' clinical performance, and as a guide for novice faculty and practitioners. Further research about critical clinical competencies in psychiatric-mental health nursing is needed.
authors.affiliation: University of Alaska Anchorage School of Nursing, AK 99508-4614, USA. afflg@uaa.alaska.edu
authors.forename: Fredricka Leigh
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Gilje
authors.forename: Patsy Mae Ellen
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Klose
authors.forename: C Judith
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Birger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016294:Models, Nursing; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000193:education*; D014481:United States