Psychometric properties of the Australian nurse competency 2000 standards.
BACKGROUND
The Australian Nursing Competency Incorporated (ANCI) 2000 standards provide a standardised framework of accepted professional standards for the registered nurse.


OBJECTIVE
The study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the ANCI 2000 national competency standards for measuring nursing competence in new graduate nurses.


METHODS
One hundred and sixteen new graduated nurses from three metropolitan public hospitals were surveyed. The psychometric properties of the ANCI 2000 including internal consistency and construct validity were examined.


RESULTS
The mean score was lowest for competency unit 6 (mean 5.96) and highest for competency unit 4 (mean 8.83). The internal reliability for the total ANCI 2000 was alpha=.93 and for the domain alpha=.81 (Domains 1 and 3), alpha=.79 (Domain 2), and alpha=.77 (Domain 4). Confirmatory factor analysis using the domains as factors confirmed the 4 factor structure although 3 factors had two items each with loadings in the .4-.5 range.


CONCLUSIONS
There are inconsistencies in the psychometric properties of the ANCI 2000 which suggest that further investigation is warranted before it can be used as an instrument for the measurement of new graduate competencies.
Andrew
Sharon
S
School of Nursing, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag, DC, NSW 1797, Australia. s.andrew@uws.edu.au
Gregory
Linda
L
Cowin
Leanne S
LS
Eagar
Sandy C
SC
Hengstberger-Sims
Cecily
C
Rolley
John
J
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D032781:Codes of Ethics; D003142:Communication; D003162:Competency-Based Education / Q000592:standards; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000592:standards; D004650:Employee Performance Appraisal / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D008008:Licensure, Nursing; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009736:Nursing Process / Q000592:standards; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education* / Q000941:ethics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000592:standards; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000592:standards; D013850:Thinking