J Korean Acad Nurs Adm.  2012 Dec;18(4):460-473.

Nursing Core Competencies Needed in the Fields of Nursing Practice for Graduates in Nursing

• Lee SK
• Park SN
• Jeong SH

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was done to provide information on issues of nursing core competencies needed in the fields of nursing practice for graduates in nursing, from the perspective of nursing managers, and to make suggestion for improving nursing education programs.
METHODS
Ten nursing managers participated in this study. They were in charge of clinical nursing education in the fields of nursing practice. Data were collected using focus group interviews and analyzed with the content analysis methodology of Downe - Wamboldt's.
RESULTS
Six types of nursing core competency - therapeutic nursing competency, professional nursing competency, administrative nursing competency, humanistic nursing competency, relational nursing competency, and personal nursing competency - were identified as nursing core competencies needed in the fields of nursing practice for graduates in nursing.
CONCLUSION
Results of the study show important evidence for decision-making about nursing curriculum revision based on nursing core competency, both in the classroom and in nursing practice areas. These results should contribute to the development of evaluation indicators for nursing students or new nurses. Further research is required to measure degree of nursing core competency in graduates of nursing and to identify the effect of competency-based education for improving nursing core competency.

Keyword

Professional competence; Nursing; Graduates; Competency-based education; Focus groups

MeSH Terms

Competency-Based Education
Curriculum
Education, Nursing
Fees and Charges
Focus Groups
Humans
Professional Competence
Students, Nursing

Figure

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  Figure 1 Procedure of content analysis (Downe-Wambodt, 1992).

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