title: Nurse competence between three generational nurse cohorts: A cross-sectional study.
abstract: Research indicates significant differences between nurse cohorts in many work-related factors. This study compared nurse competence between three generational cohorts comprising the current nursing workforce. The Nurse Competence Scale was used to collect data for this cross-sectional study from 2052 nurses in a university hospital in Finland. Data were analysed statistically. Significant differences were found between nurse cohorts in their competence. The length of work experience had a significant impact on the development of competence. The oldest cohort, with the longest work experience, had the highest competence scores (70.1 on a visual analogue scale), and the youngest had the lowest (59.0). All cohorts were most competent in patient-related nursing tasks, in maintenance of professional competence and in ethical care. Nurses were weakest in the development of nursing practice and the use of evidence-based knowledge. Targeted interventions in teaching-coaching for different nurse generations are needed to ensure the maintenance of nurse competence and high-quality patient care.
authors.affiliation: Corporate Headquarters, Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, Helsinki, Finland.|University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Riitta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meretoja
authors.affiliation: Corporate Headquarters, Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Numminen
authors.affiliation: Statcon Ltd, Salo, Finland.
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Isoaho
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.|Hospital District of Southwest Finland, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leino-Kilpi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Nurse Competence Scale; evaluation studies; generational cohort; self-assessment