Evaluating the Competency of Registered Nurses (RNs) Working in Social Medicine Department at Phichit Hospital

Abstract

    The present study is a descriptive research study conducted to evaluate the competency of registered nurses (RNs) working in the Social Medicine Department of the PhichitHospitalin Phichit, Thailand. Competency was measured using a questionnaire that was created by following guidelines taken from Assessing Competency of the civil  Service Commission (2548) ; Roles and Responsibilities of Nurses Working in the Community (Nursing Division, Thai Ministry of Public Health). Construction of the questionnaire also relied on the expertise of three individuals who provided guidance and support. This questionnaire assessed subjects’ proficiency level in ten different areas: 1) Communication skills in the relaying of information; 2) Ability to take part in collaborative efforts and work as a team; 3) Ability to gain authority in managing community health; 4) Leadership ability; 5) General management skills; 6) Ability to provide excellent healthcare; 7) Ability to retain knowledge and learn from experiences in providing community healthcare in health promotion, disease prevention, and rehabilitation; 8) Ability to provide primary care; 9) Management of information technology; and 10) Ability to show emotional maturity. Data was collected from three different groups: Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3. Group 1 consisted of 30 RNs, while Groups 2 and 3 consisted of twelve of their directors and fourteen of their peers, respectively. Data was interpreted in percentages, means, and standard deviations.

    RNs working in the Social Medicine Department were found to be competent based on the evaluation completed by Group1 on the ten different proficiency areas, collectively. However, based on the evaluations completed by Groups 2 and 3, RNs were found to be somewhat competent and highly competent, respectively. When competency was measured by the ten proficiency areas separately, RNs were found to be somewhat competent in their ability to gain authority in managing community health and incompetent in their ability to provide primary care, their ability to work as a team, and their ability to show emotional maturity. They were, however, found to be competent in the remaining areas. Lastly, present findings indicate that Groups 1, 2, and 3 gave similar evaluations on the competency of RNs based on the ten proficiency areas.