Nursing competency as experienced by hospital nurses in a clinical nursing unit

Abstract

The present study used Colaizzi's descriptive method to understand the nature and meaning of nursing competency in a clinical nursing unit. As a result, the meanings of nursing competency as experienced by hospital nurses were found to be as follows: "nursing qualifications developed through nursing tasks," "time invested to become a true nurse," "work performance fulfilled by a satisfactory desire," "positive results yielded by an effortful process of providing outstanding nursing care," "qualifications as a nurse realized by educational efforts," "realizations of positive interactions through learning and process," "qualifications as a nurse realized by accumulating nursing work experience," "colleagues that understand each other and provide strength," and "experience of oneness with the patient during the caring process." Consequently, it is necessary for nursing managers and hospital organizations to precisely understand the meaning and level of nursing competency for nurses and to provide program support to enhance nurses' performance. © 2014 SERSC.