title: Executive competencies of nurses in the Veterans Health Administration.
abstract: This study identifies competencies and accompanying skills, knowledge, and abilities (SKAs) required by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) nurse executives. Using the Delphi decision-making method, 144 VHA directors of nursing identified five top competencies necessary for nurse executives. An expert panel sorted competencies into the eight core domains of the VHA high-performance development model. Next, nurse executives rated SKAs by using a 7-point importance scale. Response rates were 34% and 48.2% for Delphi rounds 1 and 2, respectively. Round 1 generated 245 unique nurse executive competencies. In round 2, the highest rated SKAs involved ethical conduct, decision-making, abilities to continuously learn and lead, staffing, and conflict-resolution skills. Competency list outcomes are expected to be useful for executive self-assessment, professional development, and identification of continuing education needs. Specific SKAs can provide a means for development of job requirements and career performance criteria.
authors.affiliation: HDR, 8404 Indian Hills Drive, Omaha, NE 68114, USA.
authors.forename: Natalie B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Sutto
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Knoell
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zucker
authors.forename: Kenn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Finstuen
authors.forename: A David
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Mangelsdorff
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006801:Humans; D008887:Military Medicine; D008888:Military Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs