title: Towards an integrated model of nursing competence: an overview of the literature reviews and concept analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Competence is considered a fundamental element when measuring a nurse's or student's ability to provide nursing care, but there is no consensus on what competence really is. This paper aims to review the existing meanings and models of nursing competence.
  
  
  METHODS
  The overview of literature reviews and concept analysis was performed through a search on Pubmed, Cinahl and PsychINFO from January 2005 to September 2014. It included key words, such as: Competence Model; Professional Competence; Nursing Competence; Competency Model; Professional Competency; Nursing Competency.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 14 papers were found, coming from educational or clinical nursing field. It was possible to identify some common themes: description of competence determinants; confu- sion around the competence concept; lack in competence evaluation; lack when competence have to be operationalized.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overview results, enriched by the literature coming out from the organiza- tional studies, build the conceptual basis of an integrated model of nursing competence. More empirical research is needed to test the theoretical assumptions.
authors.affiliation: PhD Candidate, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy. Correspondence: Rosario.Caruso@grupposandonato.it.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.affiliation: Lecturer in Organizational Behavior, University of East Anglia, Norwich Business School, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fida
authors.affiliation: U.O.C. Direzione Infermieristica e delle Professioni Sani- tarie, Policlinico Universitario Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sili
authors.affiliation: Researcher, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, Section of Hygiene, University of Pavia.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arrigoni
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D009729:Nursing; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000592:standards; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards