A Study of Head Nurses’ Competency, Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University

Abstract

Objectives: To explore the need assessment in the competency of head nurses at Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University.

Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on all head nurses who had been working during the period of March to April, 2015. The participants consisted of 92 head nurses in the hospital, Rating scale questionnaire (5 rating scale) developed by nurse management’s competency framework of the Nursing Council of Thailand, was applied to each head nurse in order to study the competency. The reliability of the questionnaire, calculated by Cronbach’s coefficient alpha, was 0.97. The need assessment of competency was organized by the Modified Priority Needs Index (PNI Modified).

Results: A total of 92 head nurses completed the study. Their ages ranged from 40 to 60 years’ old. Most did not passed the nursing administration course (70.3%). The mean actual competency of head nurses was 3.30 and the competency needed was 4.40 from 5 rating
scale. The top needs assessment of head nurses was quality management competency (PNI Modified = 0.3611) and the most requested competency to improve was the nursing administration course. (89%)

Conclusion: The average competency of head nurses was moderate to high. The top needs assessment was quality management competency. Most head nurses required the nursing administration course to improve themselves.