The development of first line manager competency assessment scale, Naresuan University Hospital

Abstract

This research and developmental study aimed to construct and examine the quality of competency assessment scale for first line nurse manager. Two participant groups including 7 expert and 30 first line managers of Nursing Department in the Naresuan University Hospital were selected using a purposive sampling technique. The research applied 4 instruments including: a semi-structured interview for first line manager competency assessment expert team, a tool for core and functional competency assessment, behavioral competency evaluation tool, and first line manager competency assessment. The expert consensus panel was constructed to validate the content validity of the competency assessment tool. The internal consistency and feasibility were assessed by 30 head nurses, head of nursing division, and subordinates. The results showed that 1) the first line manager competency assessment scale consisted of 6 core competencies, 29 functional competencies.  The first core competency was  transformational leadership consists of 8 items. Second, innovator consists of 4 items. Third, nursing quality improvement consists of 4 items. Fourth, clinical nursing specialist consists of 3 items. Fifth, resource management consists of 6 items, and finally, ethical and legal issues consist of 4 items. 2) The quality evaluations revealed that content validity index (CVI)  and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient were 0.97 and 0.97, respectively, while the aspect of feasibility was being rated at the high level (mean= 4.19, SD.= 0.63). The present findings could be used as a guideline for individual first line manager development plan, and the competency assessment scale can be used to evaluate first line manager competencies.