Professional competence of nurses in emergency services: evidence of content validity

To verify the evidence of content validity of the Identifying Issues (Identification questions) elaborated from the theoretical-logical model of the Matrix and the Profile of Professional Competence of the emergency nurse.

Descriptive and methodological study of a quantitative approach with a psychometric reference as a precursor in the elaboration of a measurement instrument for the evaluation of competencies. The study was conducted in 2013 in Brazil, with a national sample of nurses specialized in emergency services and/or with professional competence in the area. Three stages were considered: questionnaire development; data collection with Delphi, appropriate statistics for Likert; and interpretative analysis of the comments/suggestions of the analyzed issues.

Delphi was used in four stages. There were minor adjustments to the content and inclusion of a new Competence. They obtained 90% of Score Percentage and 98.61 of Content Validity Index.

There was consensus among the experts and the research demonstrated evidence of content validity, suggesting pertinence and adequacy to represent the constructs of competencies.