Self Assessed Professional Competence of Registered Jordanian Nurses

This study examined the self-assessed competence of registered Jordanian nurses working in private hospitals, and identified background factors associated with their self-assessed professional competence. We collected competence data from 269 nurses, using the Nurse Professional Competence scale. Jordanian nurses perceived their level of professional competence to be high; they reported the highest self-assessed competence in the area of nursing care, and the lowest self-assessed competence in the area of education and supervision of staff/students. Age, gender, years of professional experience as a registered nurse, and years working in the current institution as a registered nurse were positively associated with nurses’ self-assessed levels of professional competence. Our results suggest that advanced nursing skills for education/supervision of others and leadership and safety planning need to be developed over time, beyond the bounds of undergraduate nursing programs. This warrants further development of these skills in health care organizations.