Construction Of Core Competence Evaluation Index System For Emergency Nurse Specialists

Objective This study was constructed core competence index system for evaluating emergency nurse specialist (ENS) in line with Chinese nursing practice through a variety of methods. To provide an objective standard for the appointment, training and evaluation of ENS, so that evidence-based for human resources management; to provide a refenrence for developing training strategies, and evaluating training effectiveness of Shanghai Emergency Nurse's Competence Training Program; to provide suggestion for curriculum of nurse specialist for nursing education; and to promote the professional development of emergency nursing.Methods The study established the Core Competence Framework Model for Emergency Nurse Specialist (CCFMENS) and dimensions and items of the Core Competence Evaluation Index System for Emergency Nurse Specialist (CCEISENS) through literature review, interview expert, theoretical analysis, Delphi method, and using Analysis Hierarchy Process to determine the weight coefficient of the level-1 and level-2 dimension, to construct the initial evaluation index system. The representativeness and credibility of the Delphi method were tested by the positive coefficient, authoritative coefficient, coordination coefficient and the concentration of expert advice. Then the evaluation index system was tested the psychometric properties based on the finds of a core competence of the self-reported questionnaire of"emergency nurse specialist", who came from three-A-class general hospitals of Shanghai which had Shanghai Emergency Nurse's competence training qualification. The reliability testing of the index system was tested by Cronbach'sα. The content validity and construct validity of the index system was tested by the logical analysis and correlation analysis. The contrast-group validity of the index system was tested by the results of the T test which analysed the two-group core competencies of different work-experiences nurse self-reported.Results Though above-mentioned methods:①To construct CCFMENS and CCEISENS based on the definition of the core competence of ENS. The core competence of ENS should consist of 5 domains including professional practice, critical thinking, management, communication and coordination, professional development. The evaluation index system includes 5 level-1 dimensions, 16 level-2 dimensions and 55 level-3 items.②The two-round Delphi method had a positive coefficient 0.89,1.0; authoritative coefficient of 0.85. In addition, the level-1 dimension's coordination coefficient of 0.37, and the level-2 dimension's of 0.61, chi-square test P<0.05 for all.③The weight assignment of 5 level-1 dimensions were of 0.5211,0.2184,0.0658,0.1067,0.0879. Though the analysis of foreign research and the discussions of project coordination group, the weight of level-1 dimensions assigned professional practice of 0.5, critical thinking of 0.2, management of 0.1, communication and coordination of 0.1, and professional development of 0.1.④A series of strict test such as internal consistency coefficient, content validity, construct validity and contrast-group validity were used to confirm that the index system had good statistical characteristies. Cronbach'sαof total system was up to 0.972, Cronbach'sαof each domain ranged from 0.508 to 0.972; expert content validity of 0.818; and the correlation coefficient of the first domain and the total system ranged from 0.701 to 0.886, P<0.05 for all; the contrast-group validity was T test showed P<0.05 for all. The datum suggested the index system had good reliability, validity and contrast-group validity.Conclusion Through scientific and strict qualitative and quantitative research methods to establish CCFMENS and CCEISENS, and assign the weight of the level-1 and level-2 domain, including 5 level-1 dimensions, 16 level-2 dimensions and 55 level-3 items. To provide an objective standard for the appointment, training and evaluation of ENS, and provide a refenrence for developing training strategies, and evaluating training effectiveness of Shanghai Emergency Nurse's Competence Training Program.