Assessment of competencies of nursing teachers

The present article in the journal Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation. (GIO) presents the instrument for (self-)diagnosis of pedagogical competencies of nursing teachers (PadKomPflege). Vocational training in nursing is characterised by changing content and legal requirements. In Germany different qualification paths and country-specific legal requirements lead to very heterogeneous qualification and competence profiles of nursing teachers. In this context, the accreditation of competences on nursing education study programmes and monitoring competences of teachers within nursing schools play an important role. Addressing this, the instrument PadKomPflege was developed and tested. The competence model is based on ministerial recommendations on standards for (general) teacher training (KMK 2004) as well as expert workshops and interviews with nurse education experts. The empirical testing of the items was conducted on a sample of 1096 nursing teachers. Psychometric analyses based on classical test theory and IRT-based analyses led to a revision of the instrument, which is now available as a bilingual online self-assessment tool in English and German. The validation of the German-language version took place on the basis of 545 participants in 2016, so that a tested instrument is available (containing 54 items in five main scales and 18 subscales). Both classical and probabilistic test quality criteria are fulfilled. The scales have high internal consistencies (alpha > 0,80) and are predominantly construct validated. The instrument can be used for individual competence diagnostics, e.g. by reflecting individual competence profiles of the participants. Furthermore, the test adds value for the identification of educational needs of teachers in nursing schools and within further vocational education processes.