Relating new graduate nurse competence to frequency of use.
The healthcare workplace can be a stress-laden environment for new graduates and job performance indicators are an important sign of developing confidence and expertise that will lead to improved patient outcomes. What is not evident from nursing studies is whether new graduate nurse competencies relate to the frequency of their use. This study sought to determine the relationship between perceived nursing competence and self-assessed frequency of use by new graduate nurses. Three cohorts (n = 116) of new graduate nurses undertaking year-long transition to graduate practice programs responded to a questionnaire that utilised the 2001 ANCI competencies and the Nurse Competency Scale and a Visual Analogue scale to self assess their perceived competence and the relative frequency of use for specific competence items. Results indicate that a relationship exists between perceived competence and frequency of use and that research competency scores are substantially lower than all other categories of competency. Implications for education and practice indicate that assessment of nurse competency for the new graduate nurse should focus on the development of generic nursing competencies rather than current expectation of advanced and workplace specific nurse competencies.
Hengstberger-Sims
Cecily
C
School of Nursing, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797 Penrith South DC, NSW 1797, Australia. c.hengstberger-sims@uws.edu.au
Cowin
Leanne S
LS
Eagar
Sandy C
SC
Gregory
Linda
L
Andrew
Sharon
S
Rolley
John
J
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004650:Employee Performance Appraisal; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009517:New South Wales; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012647:Self-Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires