Competency of the nursing staff in the assessment for functional health patterns

Abstract

Introduction: To ensure the provision of an effective and safe health services, it is required of a level of expertise that ensures assertive assessment of patients; hence, the importance of determining the level of competence of the nursing staff.

Objective: To evaluate the competences level in the assessment stage using the functional health patterns model.

Methodology: In a high specialty hospital, a cross-sectional and analytical study was conducted. It included 187 nurses from different categories and shifts, assigned to hospitalization services, critical care areas and operation room. By means of an instrument based on clinical simulation, the labor competences were explored in its declarative, attitudinal and procedural dimension. For the conceptual and content validity, experts subjected the instrument to two rounds of evaluation.

Results: The average age of the nursing staff was 39.5 years, 87.7 % were female, 51.3 % had coursed post-technical education, 26.7 % technical education, and only 2.1 % had coursed a master degree; 66 % showed competence in the assessment of patients. The attitudinal core was the best evaluated.

Conclusions: The competences of the nursing staff reflected is not even reached the level of expertise, situation that it may influence the quality care provided to patients.