Anesthesia nurses' self-assessment of competence

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess nurses' perceptions of their level of competence in their work in the department of anesthesiology, recovery care, and pain management. A second objective was to establish a training strategy after possibly detecting subjectively perceived needs in different areas of competence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 2007, 25 nurses belonging to the department of anesthesiology, recovery care, and pain management responded to a questionnaire based on the hospital's professional development plan. The questionnaire included items listing activities performed by anesthesia nurses in various areas of competence (patient relations and communication, health education, nursing process, task delegation, safety and prevention, team work, ethics, teaching and research, administration). RESULTS: A self-assessment of "good" or "very good" was recorded by 87.8% of the nurses, while only 6.3% evaluated their skills as "sufficient" or "insufficient". The main areas in which training was felt to be needed were safety and risk prevention, and teaching and research. CONCLUSIONS: In self-assessment, the anesthesia nurses in our hospital expressed awareness of training needs. The means to correct skill deficits should be provided, through training in theory and practice and attendance at continuing professional development courses for anesthesia nurses. The nurses' interest in further training should be encouraged given the direct effect it has on quality of care.