G-3417

Assessment of Clinical Competence Among Nurses Working in Teaching Hospitals Affiliated with Urmia University of Medical Sciences

 Raheleh Lameei ¹, Yaser Moradi ² ©, Sana Hazrati Tappeh ³ ℗   

 
Abstract

Introduction: Clinical competence is the capacity of nurses to apply technical skills, effective communication, and clinical reasoning in a considered manner. The dynamic nature of healthcare—together with the need to anticipate future healthcare demands—highlights the necessity for professionally competent nurses. Since nurses constitute the largest workforce in health systems and the quality of their care directly influences patient outcomes, evaluating clinical competence is essential. This study therefore aimed to assess the clinical competence of nurses employed in teaching hospitals affiliated with ... University of Medical Sciences. Methods and Materials: In this descriptive-analytical study, 200 nurses working in teaching hospitals in ... were selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected over a six-month period using a demographic questionnaire and the Competency Inventory for Registered Nurses (CIRN). Analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results: The mean (± SD) clinical competence score was 149.89 ± 36.23, indicating a moderate level of competence among the participating nurses. No significant differences were observed in nurses’ mean clinical competence scores between hospitals. However, a significant difference was identified between nurses working in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and those in general units (p = 0.024), with ICU nurses demonstrating higher clinical competence compared to their counterparts in general units. Conclusion and Discussion: It can be concluded that the clinical competence of the participating nurses was at a moderate level. Clinical competence is a primary indicator for evaluating nurses' performance, and its assessment is crucial for identifying areas requiring improvement, determining educational needs, and ensuring optimal care delivery. Any shortcomings or deficiencies in clinical competence inevitably affect healthcare quality, patient safety, and, ultimately, the overall health of the community. Therefore, it is recommended that hospital managers place greater emphasis on strengthening various aspects of clinical competence to enhance nurses' performance and improve overall care outcomes.

Keywords: Clinical Competence, Nurse, Teaching Hospital