Evaluate the Effectiveness of Nurses' Professional Competence Approach on Their Productivity in Medical-Surgical Units

Background: Professional competence increases productivity. Nursing competency is
generally viewed as a complex integration of knowledge skills, values and attitude. In clinical
practice, nurses are required to apply their acquired knowledge, skills and individual traits to each
situation and be able to adapt in different circumstances. Research aim: Evaluate the
effectiveness of nurses' professional competence approach on their productivity in medical
surgical units. Research Design: A quasi-experimental design was utilized to achieve the aim of
this study. Setting: The study was conducted at Benha University Hospital, Egypt in general
medical-surgical units. Sample: consisted of convenient sample of (100) nurses who are
responsible for providing direct nursing care activities to patients. Tools: three tools were used
for data collection; 1- nurses' knowledge questionnaire (50 items), 2- nurses' observational
checklist (60 items), and 3- nurses' productivity questionnaire (60 items). These tools were used
pre, post, and flow-up three months later. Result: The study indicated there were improvement in
nurses' total level of knowledge, performance, and productivity after interventions of professional
competence approach both immediately post and follow-up. More than three quarters of nurses
their knowledge was unsatisfactory, while in the immediate post and follow-up most of nurses
their knowledge improved and became satisfactory. Moreover, more than half of nurses'
performance were poor practice in pre-intervention, while after implementation it was improved
to and become good in both immediately post and follow-up. Furthermore, most of nurses'
productivity level was low in pre-intervention, while it was improved, increased and become high
in both immediate post and follow-up. Conclusion: The study concluded that the designed
approach illustrated statistical significant improvement in nurses' professional competence
knowledge & performance, and increasing of nurses' productivity. The mean scores of all
categories slightly decreased in the follow-up after three months of the approach in comparison to
immediately post. Also there were statistical significant positive correlation among nurses'
knowledge & performance and productivity. Recommendation: the study recommended that the
In-service training and education programs must be a continuous process for refreshing and
increasing nurses’ knowledge and skills about the concept of professional competency approach
as well as to emphasize nurses' productivity.