Aim To summarize nurse managers' perceptions of newly graduated nurses' (NGNs) competence and connected factors. Background Nurse managers recruiting staff are responsible for employing competent nurses to ensure quality care and professional standards. Knowledge of managers' perceptions about the competence of NGNs is needed to understand the expectations of the health care system towards future professionals. Evaluation A scoping review was conducted. A total of 12 research publications met the inclusion criteria and were analysed using inductive content analysis. Key issues Managers' perceptions can be divided into three perspectives: NGNs' competence descriptions, assessment of competences and connected factors. The NGNs' level of competence was assessed to be at least satisfactory, and dependent on prior exposure to the work setting, change in the degree of responsibility and lack of confidence. Conclusion Existing knowledge about nurse managers' perceptions of NGNs' competence is limited and rather fragmented. There is a clear need for rigorous empirical studies with comprehensive views of managers, emphasizing the key role of managers in the evaluation of nurse competence. Implications for Nursing Management Nurse managers can use the results of this review in recruitment, performance reviews and the development of job orientation programmes aimed at enhancing NGNs' transition to the nurse workforce.

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Aim:The aim of this study is to evaluate the medication calculation skills of graduating nursing students in six European countries and analyse the associated factors.Background: Medication calculation skills are fundamental to medication safety, which is a substantial part of patient safety. Previous studies have raised concerns about the medication calculation skills of nurses and nursing students.Design: As part of a broader research project, this study applies a multinational crosssectional survey design with three populations: graduating nursing students, nurse managers and patients. Methods:The students performed two calculations (tablet and fluid) testing medication calculation skills requiring different levels of conceptual understanding and arithmetic. The managers and patients answered one question about the students' medication kills. In total, 1,796 students, 538 managers and 1,327 patients participated the study. The data were analysed statistically. The STROBE guideline for crosssectional studies was applied.Results: Almost all (99%) of the students performed the tablet calculation correctly, and the majority (71%) answered the fluid calculation correctly. Older age, a previous degree in health care and satisfaction with their current degree programme was positively associated with correct fluid calculations. The patients evaluated the students' medication skills higher than the nurse managers did and the evaluations were not systematically aligned with the calculation skills tested. Conclusions:Nursing students have the skills to perform simple medication calculations, but a significant number of students have difficulties with calculations involving multiple operations and a higher level of conceptual understanding. Due to the variation in students' medication calculation skills and the unalignment between the | 549 ELONEN Et aL.

As future employers, nurse managers are in a key position to assess the correspondence between the competence of graduating nursing students and work life demands. The aim of the present study was to assess the competence of graduating nursing students from the perspective of managers, and analyze the factors linked to it. Among European managers in six countries, a cross-sectional survey design with a convenience sample was applied. Data were collected using the Nurse Competence Scale. The study was reported using the STROBE guidelines. Managers (n = 538, 65.8%) assessed the level of competence of graduating nursing students as good, but there were statistically significant differences between countries. In a multivariable analysis, managers who had a Doctoral/Master's degree and were dissatisfied with the nursing program in their country assessed the level of competence as lower. Overall, graduating nursing students seem to meet the competence demands of current work life rather well. Further research is needed to confirm the connection between the managers’ competence assessment and their individual background factors.