Dementia nursing competency in acute care settings: A concept analysis

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Gerontology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Rising dementia patient numbers in acute care settings necessitate specialized nursing skills.
• Current frameworks for dementia nursing competency in acute care are not explicitly defined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically analyze the concept of dementia nursing competency within acute care environments.
• To establish a clear understanding of the essential components of dementia nursing.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Rodgers' evolutionary method for concept analysis.
• Conducted a systematic literature search (2006-2017) using keywords: Competency, dementia, nursing, acute, hospital, clinical.
• Analyzed 29 selected articles focusing on attributes, antecedents, and consequences.

Main Results:

• Identified six key attributes: respecting individuality, ethical application, person-centred care, responsibility, environmental coordination, and care facilitation.
• Recognized antecedents include knowledge building, dementia awareness, assessment skills, relationship development, and teamwork.
• Positive consequences observed for patients, nurses, and interpersonal relationships.

Conclusions:

• Dementia nursing competency fosters enhanced emotional interventions and a human-to-human connection.
• Establishing this competency improves the quality of care for patients with dementia in acute settings.