Evaluate the Effectiveness of Nurses' Professional Competence Approach on Their Productivity in Medical-Surgical Units

Abstract

Background: Professional competence increases productivity. Nursing competency is generally viewed as a complex integration of knowledge skills, values and attitude. In clinical practice, nurses are required to apply their acquired knowledge, skills and individual traits to each situation and be able to adapt in different circumstances. Research aim: Evaluate the effectiveness of nurses' professional competence approach on their productivity in medical surgical units. Research Design: A quasi-experimental design was utilized to achieve the aim of this study. Setting: The study was conducted at Benha University Hospital, Egypt in general medical-surgical units. Sample: consisted of convenient sample of (100) nurses who are responsible for providing direct nursing care activities to patients. Tools: three tools were used for data collection; 1- nurses' knowledge questionnaire (50 items), 2- nurses' observational checklist (60 items), and 3- nurses' productivity questionnaire (60 items). These tools were used pre, post, and flow-up three months later. Result: The study indicated there were improvement in nurses' total level of knowledge, performance, and productivity after interventions of professional competence approach both immediately post and follow-up. More than three quarters of nurses their knowledge was unsatisfactory, while in the immediate post and follow-up most of nurses their knowledge improved and became satisfactory. Moreover, more than half of nurses' performance were poor practice in pre-intervention, while after implementation it was improved to and become good in both immediately post and follow-up. Furthermore, most of nurses' productivity level was low in pre-intervention, while it was improved, increased and become high in both immediate post and follow-up. Conclusion: The study concluded that the designed approach illustrated statistical significant improvement in nurses' professional competence knowledge & performance, and increasing of nurses' productivity. The mean scores of all categories slightly decreased in the follow-up after three months of the approach in comparison to immediately post. Also there were statistical significant positive correlation among nurses' knowledge & performance and productivity. Recommendation: the study recommended that the In-service training and education programs must be a continuous process for refreshing and increasing nurses’ knowledge and skills about the concept of professional competency approach as well as to emphasize nurses' productivity.