Abstract
AimsThe aim of this study was to investigate how operating theatre nurses (OTNs) self‐rated their clinical competence and describe their experience of important factors for the development of clinical competence in perioperative nursing.DesignA cross‐sectional study with a mixed‐method approach was chosen. Data were collected through a modified version of the questionnaire Professional Nurse Self‐Assessment Scale of Clinical Core Competence I, which was supplemented with an open‐ended question.MethodsData were collected from 303 operating theatre nurses in Sweden. Statistics analysis was used to identify the relationship between the participants' background variables. The open‐ended question was analysed by using a qualitative conventional content analysis.ResultsAcademic degree and professional experience of perioperative nursing were significant for the development of clinical competence. Academic degree appeared to affect operating theatre nurses’ leadership and cooperation in the surgical team, as well as how consultations took place with other professionals.
Highlights
High‐tech operating theatres today offer various challenges that re‐ quire increasingly specialized and qualified operating theatre nurses (OTNs) who have had continuous development of clinical competence in perioperative nursing (Sweeney, 2010; Smith & Palesy, 2018)
This study shows that OTNs’ academic de‐ gree and professional experience were the background factors that influenced how they self‐rated clinical competence in perioperative nursing
The result showed that an academic degree, professional experience and interprofessional learning are important for the de‐ velopment of clinical competence in perioperative nursing
Summary
High‐tech operating theatres today offer various challenges that re‐ quire increasingly specialized and qualified operating theatre nurses (OTNs) who have had continuous development of clinical competence in perioperative nursing (Sweeney, 2010; Smith & Palesy, 2018). According to Blegeberg et al (2008), OTN participation in the patient's nursing process was incomplete This means that OTNs’ clinical competence in perioper‐ ative nursing is unclear as well as their relationship with the patient. Being a professional means having the knowledge, skills and abilities as well as being able to apply research results, “knowing that” and “knowing how” a specific task should be done and why, as well as having personal responsibility for what is right and wrong in the situation (Bentling & Jonsson, 2010). According to Ellström (1992), competence means having the ability to act and perform the specifics of duty in a certain situation or context, and to reflect on and critically analyse and evaluate one's own way of carrying out the work. The concept of competence varies within different professions and in different contexts
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