Development of a Competency Framework for Nurses in the Lactation Clinic, Sansai Hospital
Keywords:
Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding clinic, Nursing competency, Competency framework, Competency developmentAbstract
Breastfeeding is an essential factor contributing to maternal health and infant development. Nurses working in breastfeeding clinics play a crucial role in supporting and promoting breastfeeding practices. This developmental research aimed to develop a competency framework for professional nurses working in the breastfeeding clinic at Sansai Hospital, based on the competency framework development approach proposed by Marrelli et al.
Participants were selected using purposive sampling and divided into two groups: five expert nurses in breastfeeding clinics who participated in in-depth interviews, and five experts who evaluated the draft competency framework. Data collection methods included literature review, semi-structured interviews, and content validity assessment. Interview data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using content analysis through systematic coding and categorization of competencies. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Item-Content Validity Index (I-CVI). The study was approved by the research ethics committee, and all participants provided informed consent prior to participation.
The findings revealed that the competency framework for nurses working in the breastfeeding clinic at Sansai Hospital consisted of five competency domains with 47 behavioral indicators: 1) academic knowledge (19 items), 2) nursing practice skills (15 items), 3) counseling skills (5 items), 4) communication and coordination skills (3 items), and 5) management skills (5 items). All behavioral indicators demonstrated excellent content validity, with an I-CVI of 1.00.
The developed competency framework can be applied as a guideline for performance evaluation, competency development, and nursing human resource management. It may also contribute to improving the quality of breastfeeding care within healthcare service systems.
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