The Competency of Nurses Employed in Elderly Nursing Homes

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to clarify the competencies of nurses employed in elderly nursing homes.

Method: Behavioral Event Interviewing was conducted with 12 nurses who had been working for over three years in an elderly nursing home. Data were analyzed using a qualitative descriptive approach.

Results: A total of 131 nursing behaviors were obtained. After abstraction, the following 6 competencies were identified: ‘Supporting living while respecting the values of elderly people'; ‘To fully understand the mental and physical condition of the elderly people and to link it to care'; ‘Supporting families in consideration of their feelings'; ‘Being satisfied with performing end of life care for the residents and their families'; ‘Growing with care workers'; and ‘Exercising leadership both inside and outside the facility'.

Conclusion: The present study clarified the competencies of nurses employed in elderly nursing homes. Furthermore, the levels of difficulty should be statistically verified in a future study