Assessing nurses' professional competency: a cross-sectional study in Palestine

Background Evaluating nurses' professional competence is critical for ensuring high-quality patient care. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the nurses' professional competence level and to identify differences based on demographics in three West Bank hospitals.Methods A cross-sectional design was used, and a convenient sample of 206 nurses participated in the study. The Nurse Professional Competence (NPC) Scale was used to assess the competency level. The investigator distributed the questionnaire and explained the aim of the research. Consent forms were signed before the data collection.Results The average competency level was 79% (SD = 11.5), with 90% being professionally competent nurses. The average "nursing care" competency was 79% (SD = 12.98), and the competency level in providing value-based care was 80% (SD = 13.35). The average competency level in technical and medical care was 78% (SD = 13.45), whereas 79% (SD = 12.85) was the average competence level in "Care Pedagogics" and "Documentation and Administration ". The average competence level in the development and leadership subscale was 78% (SD = 12.22). Nurses who attended three to five workshops had a higher level of Nursing Care Competency, (H = 11.98, p = 0.003), and were more competent in value-based care (H = 9.29, p = 0.01); in pedagogical care and patient education (H = 15.16, P = 0.001); and in providing medical and technical care (H = 12.37, p = 0.002). Nurses attending more than five workshops were more competent in documentation and administration (H = 12.55, p = 0.002), and in development and leadership subscale ( H = 7.96, p = 0.20).Conclusion The study revealed that participants lacked development and leadership skills. Engagement in workshops positively impacted the level of competencies among nurses. Notably, those attending more than five workshops exhibited greater competence in documentation, administration, development, and leadership in nursing care.Implications This study emphasized the role of continuing education in improving nurses' competencies and highlighted the need to conduct the study at a wider aspect to involve more hospitals with various affiliations to help structure more sensitive professional development and adopt the competencies as an integral part of staff development.