A Study of Nurses Competency Based On Career Ladder Of Nurses In Stroke Intensive Unit At Super Tertiary Hospitals

Abstract

 This descriptive research aimed to study the competencies according to the professional ladder of nurses working in stroke critical care units of a tertiary hospital. The research employed the Delphi technique and was conducted in three phases: 1) interviews regarding the competencies of nurses at various professional levels, including operational, expert, specialist, and advanced levels, 2) data analysis and the development of a questionnaire for experts to evaluate the importance of each competency; and 3) calculation of median values and interquartile ranges to summarize the findings.
The findings revealed seven core competencies for nurses in stroke intensive unit at super tertiary hospitals: 1) critical care nursing, 2) high-alert medication management, 3) complication prevention and management, 4) Post - critical phase rehabilitation 5) communication and coordination for patient care, 6) end-of-life care for critically ill patients, 7) utilization of medical devices and health informatics, and 8) quality management and control of care. Nurses working in inpatient wards include those at the operational, proficient, advanced proficient, and expert levels, all of whom possess competencies across eight domains. However, the specific sub-competencies differ by level as follows: 1) Operational level focuses on basic nursing tasks under supervision; 2) Proficient level involves caring for complex patients and effective teamwork; 3) Advanced proficient level includes problem-solving and applying evidence-based practice; and 4) Expert level entails making decisions on highly complex and critical issues. This study can serve as a guideline for competency assessment and task assignment based on the capabilities of nurses at each level.