Head Nurses’ Competencies in Implementation of the Action Plan as Perceived by Nurses in Tertiary Hospitals, Southern Thailand

Abstract

This descriptive research aimed to examine head nurses’ competencies in implementation
of the action plan as perceived by nurses in 9 tertiary hospitals, Southern Thailand. Subjects
were 364 nurses from all of nurse Units in tertiary hospitals, Southern Thailand, who had
at least 5 years of work experience. The sampling technique was used. Instrument was a
questionnaire about 7 competencies of the head nurses in the implementation of the action plan, the researchers was developed from Nongnut’s concepts of the process of implementation of the action plan and the role of head nurses in the implementation of the action plan and integrated with the concept of competencies of leadership and management of the Thailand Nursing and Midwifery Council, which has content validity (CVI) was 0.98 and the reliability coefficient alpha of Cronbach was 0.99, analyzed by using frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation.
The results showed that the mean total score of head nurses’ competencies in implementation of the action plan as perceived by nurses in tertiary hospitals, Southern Thailand was at a high level (M = 3.78, SD = 0.70). When considering dimensions of
competencies, 6 of the 7 competencies were at a high level, as follows: competency in designing (M = 3.86, SD = 0.67), competency in inspiring (M = 3.84, SD = 0.75), competency in discipline of success (M = 3.82, SD = 0.74), competency in being a change agent (M = 3.81, SD = 0.77), competency in assessment (M = 3.80, SD = 0.73), and competency in decision making (M = 3.71, SD = 0.72) respectively. Only the competency in resource allocation was at a moderate level (M = 3.61, SD = 0.79).
The results of this study will be the basis and useful in developing competencies of head nurses to put the action plan into practice and to develop greater effectiveness.