Designing and Validating a Competency Assessment Scale for Head Nurses’ Competences in General Inpatient Units At Main Mansoura University Hospital

Abstract

Background: Today, hospitals have demanded professionals with competencies that enable high performance in working toward organizational goals. The head nurse plays an important role in health services. She is responsible for the management of nursing services with a view to deliver quality care.

Aim: The aim of the present study is to design and validate a relevant, feasible, and reliable competency assessment scale for head nurses’ competences at Main Mansoura University Hospital. Methods: A Descriptive study design was used in the present study. The study was carried out in all general inpatient units at Main Hospital of Mansoura University. The study subjects include all head nurses (42 head nurses) in all inpatient units at Main Mansoura University Hospital. There are also jury group who included 12 head nurses at Mansoura University Hospital and 13 academic staff from Faculty of Nursing at Mansoura, Ain shams, Cairo, Banha ,Damanhour and Zagazig Universities. Three tools were used for data collection namely; Interview Questionnaire Sheet, an Observation Check list and a Validity Form. Results: The result revealed that most of head nurses agreed upon the proposed head nurses’ competency requirements.  The proposed Competency Assessment Scale for Head Nurses’ competences is valid to be used in in all inpatient units at Main Hospital of Mansoura University 

Conclusion and recommendation: The study findings indicated that the proposed a Competency Assessment Scale for Head Nurses’ competences approved by majority agreement of a group of jury and is valid to be used in all inpatient units at Main Hospital of Mansoura University. It is recommended to disseminate of the proposed scale among head nurses improved their competences in general inpatient units.