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Exploring Discrepancies in Perceived Nursing Competence Between Postgraduate-Year Nurses and Their Preceptors
Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing
|April 1, 2017
Summary
Postgraduate-year (PGY) nurses and their preceptors showed differing views on clinical competence. PGY nurses rated themselves higher in communication, patient education, and management skills, impacting residency program effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Education
- Clinical Competence Assessment
- Healthcare Professional Development
Background:
- Postgraduate clinical training programs are crucial for enhancing core nursing competencies.
- Discrepancies in perceived clinical competence between postgraduate-year (PGY) nurses and their preceptors can influence program effectiveness.
- This study investigated the comparative perspectives of PGY nurses and their preceptors on clinical competencies within a Taiwanese residency program.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the self-perceived clinical competencies of PGY nurses with their preceptors' assessments.
- To identify specific areas of competence where nurse-preceptor perception gaps exist.
- To inform the development of more effective postgraduate nursing training programs.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study design was employed at a medical center in Taiwan.
- Data were collected from 99 pairs of postgraduate-year nurses and their respective preceptors.
- The Nursing Competence Questionnaire was utilized to gather quantitative data on perceived competencies.
Main Results:
- PGY nurses reported significantly higher scores than their preceptors in communication, patient education, and management competencies (p <.05).
- Preceptors with more extensive clinical experience demonstrated greater discrepancies in assessing nurses' clinical care, communication, patient education, research awareness, and overall competence (p <.05).
Conclusions:
- The findings highlight significant differences in competence perception between PGY nurses and their preceptors.
- Recommendations include developing preceptor training grounded in pedagogical frameworks and utilizing assessment tools with explicit behavioral indicators for objective evaluation.
- Addressing these perception gaps is essential for optimizing postgraduate nursing education and ensuring consistent standards of care.
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