A Study on the Competency of Nurses Working at an Orthopedic Unit, Tertiary Hospitals

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore a creating the competency of nurses working at an orthopedic unit tertiary hospitals. The Ethnographic Delphi Future Research (EDFR) technique was used in this study. Participants were 20 orthopedic experts, including 3 physicians, 4 nursing administrators, 4 registry nurses instructors, and 3 advance practice nurses. The EDFR Technique consisted of 3 steps. Step 1: Experts were asked about the major components of competency and sub-components of nurses working at an orthopedic unit, tertiary hospitals. Step 2: Data from step 1 were analyzed using content analysis. Then, the rating scale questionnaire on sub-elements in each item were created. All items in the questionnaire were rated by all experts. Step 3: Data were analyzed using median and interquartile range. Then, the questionnaire with the median and interquartile range of each item was sent to the same experts for their confirmation. Data were analyzed again using median and interquartile range to summarize a creating the competency of nurses working at an orthopedic unit, tertiary hospitals.
The competency of nurses working at an orthopedic unit, tertiary hospitals were classified in to 6 components: 1) Orthopedic nursing consisting of 54 sub - components. 2) Providing information and counseling consisting of 12 sub - components. 3) Using orthopedic equipment and appliance consisting of 20 sub - components 4) Risk management consisting of 16 sub - component. 5) Communication and using information technology consisting of 16 sub - component.6) Quality improvement consisting of 12 sub – components