Assessing Nursing Graduates′ Clinical Competency from the Viewpoints of Graduates and Head Nurses

Clinical competency is a challenging subject in the field of health care which is important in different aspects of nursing such as educational, clinical and management. As a part of efficient manpower in medical centers, novice nurses need more attention and care. Assessing new graduate's clinical competency is important in managing care process and determining their educational needs. The aim of this study was to assess graduate nurse's clinical competency from the graduates’ and head nurses’ viewpoints. In a descriptive - analytical study a total of 70 nursing graduates and 35 head nurses working in hospitals affiliated to Ardabil University of Medical Sciences were selected through a consensus method of sampling. Data collection tool included demographic information and clinical competency questionnaire designed by researchers to evaluate competencies in seven domains. Data were analyzed by SPSS v.16, using descriptive and inferential statistics. The mean score of clinical competencies perceived by graduates was significantly higher than those reported by head nurses in all domains, except caring and professional development (p<0.05); The patients and families׳s safety-comfort (83.8%) and team work (82.8%) were reported as the highest competencies (good and excellent) by graduates, and professional development (45%) was reported as the lowest competency by this group. From the viewpoints of head nurses, the highest and the lowest competencies in novice nurses were team work (66.6%) and leadership-management (43.7%). The graduates′ clinical competency was not enough in professional development and leadership-management. It appears that current educational programs provide opportunity to improve graduates′ clinical competency but they are not enough. In order to meet professional needs, revising nursing curriculum, applying new teaching and clinical evaluation strategies are suggested. Also, organizing mentoring programs in order to orientation of newly qualified nurses are recommended.