title: Development of a nursing practice based competency model for the Flemish master of nursing and obstetrics degree.
abstract: The aim was to identify a set of competences for the Flemish academic Master of Nursing and Obstetrics degree that answer perceived needs in health care. The competency model was to demonstrate a degree of consensus among key nurses. The study was conducted in all Flemish hospitals registered to have 400 beds or more. Head nurses of surgery, geriatrics and intensive care units were eligible to participate, as well as one nurse from administration per hospital. A two round Delphi process allowed participants to comment on items identified in an analysis of existing international competency profiles of master level nurses and adapted to the Flemish context. Competences agreed to by 90% of the respondents were considered to have consensus. Fifteen out of 19 eligible hospitals were recruited in the study, 45 nurses participated in the Delphi panel. Consensus was reached on 31 competences that can be assigned to 5 nurse's roles: nursing expert, innovator, researcher, educator and manager. The resulting competency profile is in accordance with published profiles for similar programs. The reported study demonstrates a practical method to develop a consensus competency model for an academic master program based on the input of key individuals in mainstream nursing.
authors.affiliation: Master of Nursing and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. gerlinde.de.clercq@gmail.com
authors.forename: Gerlinde
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Clercq
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Goelen
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Danschutter
authors.forename: Joeri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vermeulen
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huyghens
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001530:Belgium; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003162:Competency-Based Education / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003697:Delphi Technique; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012579:Schools, Nursing / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires