Competencies required for occupational health nurses.

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health Nursing
• Competency-Based Education
• Human Resources in Healthcare

Background:

• Effective occupational health (OH) nursing requires more than skills and knowledge; competencies are crucial for optimal performance.
• Dr. McClelland's competency model provides a framework for understanding professional capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the core competencies required for high-performing occupational health nurses.
• To develop a structural diagram illustrating the interrelationships of these identified competencies.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative descriptive research design.
• Semi-structured interviews with eight high-performing OH nurses.
• Inductive data analysis using the KJ method.

Main Results:

• Seven key competencies were identified: self-growth, OH nursing essence perpetuation, strategic planning and duty fulfillment, coordination, client growth support, team empowerment, and creative competency.
• A structure diagram was developed to visualize the relationships between these competencies.
• While direct comparison with US findings was limited due to definitional differences, the identified competencies aligned with the AAOHN models 1 and 2.

Conclusions:

• The seven identified competencies are fundamental for OH nurses to effectively fulfill their roles.
• These competencies enable OH nurses to meet the diverse expectations of both employees and employers.
• The findings support the development of targeted training and professional development programs for OH nurses.