First-Level Nurse Executives Competencies in the New Normal at a Tertiary Hospital, Chiang Rai Province

Abstract

The objectives of this descriptive research were to: 1) study the competencies of first-level  nurse executives in the new normal, and 2) assess the level of development of "new normal" competencies among first-level nurse managers at a tertiary hospital in Chiang Rai Province. The sample group consisted of 103 first-level nurse executives. The research instrument consisted of a personal information form and a competencies assessment form for first-level nurse executives. The content validity ranged from .67 to 1.00 and the reliability value was at the 0.844 level. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and first-order confirmatory factor analysis, using the KMO (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin) statistical index and Bartlett's test of sphericity. The results were as follows.

1. Overall, the "new normal" competencies of the first-level nurse executives were at the highest level.

2. The first-order confirmatory factor analysis of the first-level nurse executives in the new normal consisted in 5 components: 1) professional, ethics, and law, 2) quality management and development, 3) leadership, 4) health policy and environment, and 5) communication and relationship building. The first-order confirmatory was consistent with empirical data. The statistical values met the criteria for the test of harmony (x²_{1st order} = 1.448, df = 2, p-value = 0.485 และ RMSEA = 0.958).

In conclusion, those five components for the nurses competencies under "new normal" scheme should be developed among first-level nurse executives.