Community Nursing Competencies: A Comparison of Educator, Administrator, and Student Perspectives

Abstract

Perceptions of functioning levels of baccalaureate students nearing graduation were assessed, comparing views of 15 educators, 15 health department administrators, and 185 students. A modified list of the 47 essential public health nursing competencies identified through the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services Division of Nursing served as the basis for data collection and analyses. Student competencies in individual skills were ranked higher than group and community competencies by all three groups surveyed. Students ranked competencies at higher levels than educators and educators at higher levels than administrators. Although administrators continue to advise new graduates to work in acute care before entering community health, support for continuation of this practice was not observed based on administrator ratings.

A Study of Community Healthcare Competency Among Public Health Nurses

“…On the other hand, application of biostatistics earned the lowest score. A similar result was obtained by Nickel et al (1995), Roques (1999), MacDonald and Schoenfeld (2003), indicating that PHNs should strengthen community-focused professional competencies such as application of epidemiology, participating in community development, community assessment even as far as social marketing, political activities, conflict resolution and persuasion skills.…”

“…The purpose of this research was to explore factors related to the professional competency of PHNs in Taiwan. The questionnaire was developed by the researchers based on their review of relevant literature, which included 27th Community Health Nursing Committee (2005), Keller et al (1998), Liou (1998), Nickel et al (1995) and the Quad Council of Public Health Nursing Organization (2004). The questionnaire used in this study encompassed three parts, covering, respectively questions on demographics, workrelated task performance frequency, and competency in performing work-related tasks (self-reported).…”

“…In the area of professional PHN competency, Nickel et al (1995) indicated that professional competency at the community level is lower than that at individual, family and group levels. Liou (1998) focused his study on nurses in health clinics in northern Taiwan and, according to results, found no significant difference among PHN professional competency in individual/family care, community-focused care and professional development.…”

“…A number of academic experts have also released reports addressing PHN professional competency. Nickel et al (1995) developed evaluation benchmarks for 47 professional skills in accordance with PHN professional competency prescribed by US National Department of Health Services, and it has assigned 3 different levels of professional competency (individual, group, and community). The community level encompasses 17 categories, including group-focused care, interaction with others and community evaluation.…”

Competências dos profissionais de saúde no referencial das funções essenciais de saúde pública: contribuição para a construção de projetos pedagógicos na enfermagem

“…Desde então, muitos estudos têm sido realizados nos Estados Unidos, na Inglaterra e na Austrália para identificação das competências na área da saúde. Estes incluem contribuições para o estudo das competências requeridas por médicos e enfermeiros para o trabalho na atenção primária e na comunidade no exterior (13,(23)(24)(25)(26)(27) e no Brasil (20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28) , sendo que estes últimos tratam somente de competências gerais.…”