Clinical competence: starship enterprise or straitjacket?

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Professional Development

Background:

• Clinical competence assessment has been part of UK nurse education for two decades.
• It gained prominence following the 1999 nurse education reforms.
• The concept remains controversial, with noted difficulties in assessment and integration with educational programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the historical origins of clinical competence assessment in nursing.
• To identify and discuss challenges associated with implementing clinical competence assessment.
• To review existing literature and research concerning clinical competence in nurse education.

Main Methods:

• Literature review on clinical competence assessment in nursing.
• Discussion based on a Winifred Raphael Memorial Lecture.
• Reference to two UK-commissioned research studies on nurse educational preparation.

Main Results:

• The paper highlights the controversial nature of clinical competence assessment.
• Identifies problems in the assessment process and its link to educational components.
• Discusses findings from UK research studies where competence measurement was a key issue.

Conclusions:

• Clinical competence assessment in nursing education requires careful consideration of its origins and associated challenges.
• Further research and discussion are needed to address the complexities of assessment and integration.
• The paper contributes to the ongoing discourse on ensuring effective clinical competence in nursing practice.