title: Development of a self-assessment tool for measuring competences of obstetric nurses in rooming-in wards in China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To provide high-quality nursing care, a reliable and feasible competency assessment tool is critical. Although several questionnaire-based competency assessment tools have been reported, a tool specific for obstetric nurses in rooming-in wards is lacking. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to develop a competency assessment tool for obstetric rooming-in ward nurses.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature review was conducted to create an individual intensive interview with 14 nurse managers, educators, and primary nurses in rooming-in wards. Expert reviews (n = 15) were conducted to identify emergent themes in a Delphi fashion. A competency assessment questionnaire was then developed and tested with 246 rooming-in ward nurses in local hospitals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We constructed a three-factor linear model for obstetric rooming-in nurse competency assessment. Further refinement resulted in a self-assessment questionnaire containing three first-tier, 12 second-tier, and 43 third-tier items for easy implementation. The questionnaire was reliable, contained satisfactory content, and had construct validity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our competency assessment tool provides a systematic, easy, and operational subjective evaluation model for nursing managers and administrators to evaluate obstetric rooming-in ward primary nurses. The application of this tool will facilitate various human resources functions, such as nurse training/education effect evaluation, and will eventually promote high-quality nursing care delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Qianjiang College, Hangzhou Normal UniversityHangzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China; Department of Nursing, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical UniversityShanghai, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Ju
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University Shanghai, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Wenqin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University Shanghai, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fan
keywords: Competency assessment; competency-based education/organization & administration; educational measurement; obstetric nurse; rooming-in ward nurse