Older People Nursing In Care Homes: An Examination Of Nursing Professionals' Self-Assessed Competence And Its Predictors

BackgroundThe need for older people nursing expertise is increasing, and every effort is required to ensure that personnel taking care of older people are capable of providing high-quality care.AimsTo explore care home nursing professionals' self-rated competence in older people nursing and to identify predictors of this competence.DesignA cross-sectional survey design.MethodData were collected in August-September 2017 via an electronic questionnaire using the newly developed Nurse Competence in Care Home Scale (NCCHS). Participants (n=781) were recruited via nurses' associations and social media. They were working in care homes either as licensed practical nurses (n=680) or as registered nurse and/or in managerial position (n=101).FindingsApproximately 65% of the respondents had adequate competence, and 35% had inadequate competence in older people nursing based on self-assessed overall competence. Respondents rated their competence highest in observation, communication, interaction and lowest in group guidance and activities subscale. Age and further training were predictors of licensed practical nurses' competence, and length of work experience predicted registered nurses' competence.ConclusionsSelf-assessments revealed the need for competence development especially in relation to holistic support of a person's well-being. It is recommended that care home nurses, managers, educators and curriculum developers all strive to develop care home staff's ability to support residents' well-being holistically.Implications for practiceNursing personnel should consider all aspects of older people's well-being holistically. In care homes, it is essential to assess nursing staff competence and to provide possibilities for competence development for personnel.