Competencies in Swedish emergency departments - The practitioners' and managers' perspective

The task of emergency departments (EDs) is to provide safe emergency healthcare while adopting a caring, cost-effective approach. Patients attending EDs have different medical and caring needs and it is assumed that practitioners have the requisite competencies to meet those needs. The aim of the present study is to explore what kind of competencies practitioners and managers describe as necessary for the practitioners to perform their everyday work in EDs.

This study used a qualitative, exploratory design. Interviews were conducted in two EDs. Data were analysed using inductive content analysis.

The competence focus in everyday work in EDs is on emergency and life-saving actions. There is a polarisation between medical and caring competencies. There is also tension between professional groups in EDs as well as hierarchical boundaries that influence the ability to develop competencies in everyday work. Medical competencies are valued more and caring competencies are subsequently downgraded. A medical approach to competencies consolidates the view of necessary competencies in everyday work in EDs.

The study shows that the competencies that are valued consolidate the prevailing medical paradigm. There is a traditional, one-sided approach to competencies, a hierarchical distinction between professional groups and unclear occupational functions.