Factors influencing of professional nurses competencies in emergency department according to the perception of registered nurses in middle level (M2) community hospitals of healthcare region 7

Abstract

This predictive correlational study aimed to examine the level of professional nurses in emergency department and the factors influencing these competencies, as perceived by registered nurses in middle level (M2) community hospitals of Health Region 7. Data were collected from 173 registered nurses. The research instrument was a questionnaire assessing factors influencing the competencies of nurses, as perceived by professional nurses in M2 community hospitals, Health Region 7. The questionnaire comprised three sections: personal information, environmental factors, and competencies of professional nurses. Content validity was reviewed by five experts, content validity indices of 0.85, 0.90, and 0.92. Reliability testing showed Cronbach's alpha coefficients of 0.96 and 0.97. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and stepwise multiple regression analysis. The results revealed that the overall competency of professional nurses in middle level (M2) community hospitals, as perceived by registered nurses in these hospitals, was at a high level (= 4.39, S.D.=0.51). Personal factors and environmental factors, including emergency medical policies, management, age, and nursing supervision, significantly predicted the competencies of professional nurses in emergency department as perceived by registered nurses, explaining 31.4% of the variance (R²= 0.314) at a significance level of 0.05, that other factors accounting for 68.60% of the variance in emergency nurses' competencies, such as career advancement, teamwork, and motivation, may also influence their performance. Further research is needed to explore these factors in order to utilize the findings for enhancing the effectiveness of professional nurses' competencies.