Thursday, April 3, 2014

From U Turku-Finland: Nurse competence between three generational nurse cohorts: A cross-sectional study

 2014 Apr 1. doi: 10.1111/ijn.12297. [Epub ahead of print]

Nurse competence between three generational nurse cohorts: A cross-sectional study.

Author information

  • 1Corporate Headquarters, Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, Helsinki, Finland; University of Turku, Turku, Finland.

Abstract

Research indicates significant differences between nurse cohorts in many work-related factors. This study compared nurse competence between three generational cohorts comprising the current nursing workforce. The Nurse Competence Scale was used to collect data for this cross-sectional study from 2052 nurses in a university hospital in Finland. Data were analysed statistically. Significant differences were found between nurse cohorts in their competence. The length of work experience had a significant impact on the development of competence. The oldest cohort, with the longest work experience, had the highest competence scores (70.1 on a visual analogue scale), and the youngest had the lowest (59.0). All cohorts were most competent in patient-related nursing tasks, in maintenance of professional competence and in ethical care. Nurses were weakest in the development of nursing practice and the use of evidence-based knowledge. Targeted interventions in teaching-coaching for different nurse generations are needed to ensure the maintenance of nurse competence and high-quality patient care.

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