Clinical competence of psychiatric nurse: A concept analysis in Rogers` evolutionary method

"Clinical competency" is a complicated concept which is important in nursing profession for safe caring. However; there is no certainty on clinical competence definition as the kind of psychiatric nursing services changes based on context. A clear definition of clinical competency leads to identify the essential components and in research or clinical practice and provides the best possible standards of care. The aim of present study was to analyze the clinical competency concept to identify its attributes, antecedents and consequences.

Six step Rodgers’ concept analysis method was used. First, the key words were selected with reviewing articles. The key words of psychiatric nurse, clinical competency,competence, nursing, students , in databases of SID, PubMed, Archives of psychiatric nursing , IJPN were searched in Persian and English in single or combind. Regarding the evidences time period between 1980 to 2018 and the psychiatric context were selected for data collection. Among 300 original articles and 2 primary books, 195 articles were excluded with regard to inclusion criteria and 105 articles remained. According to Rodgers’ approach, 20% of the sources were included in the research. The Alternative words, attribute, antecedents and consequence were explained and conceptualized.

The terms ability(42.85%), adequacy(4.76%), preparation(14.28%),skill(61.90%) and competency(4.76%) were used as substitution for clinical competency. 2categories of general and specific traits were defined. Antecedents were individual, environmental and organizational factors. Consequences of Clinical competency of psychiatric nurses are enhancement of health services quality, decreased medical mistakes, increased safety, decreased costs and enhanced nursing profession.

Psychiatric nursing clinical competency is careful and continuous incorporation of therapeutic communication with, professional skills, specialized knowledge and clinical reasoning, emotions and values appropriate to context for psychiatric nursing interventions that, individual, environmental, organization are influential factors. Definition of clinical competency leads to have practical indicators for objective evaluating, formation of a framework for training based on index, and the basis for providing the competency license. The re-analysis of the concept by hybrid method is needed.