International comparison of professional competency frameworks for nurses: a document analysis

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Professional Competencies
• International Healthcare Standards

Background:

• Nursing competency frameworks define essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes for nurses.
• Variations exist across countries, influencing professional development and international collaboration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze and compare competencies and task divisions in registered nurse (RN) frameworks from the Netherlands, Belgium, UK, Canada, and US.
• To identify commonalities and differences in RN competency descriptions across these nations.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative document analysis of the latest RN competency frameworks from five selected countries.
• Inductive identification of generic competency domains and comparison of specific descriptions.

Main Results:

• Ten generic competency domains were identified across all frameworks: Professional Attitude, Clinical Care, Communication, Health Promotion, Care Organization, Leadership, Quality & Safety, Education, e-Health, and Self-Management Support.
• Country-specific variations were noted in competency categorization and detailed descriptions.
• Task division descriptions between nurses and other professionals were limited and imprecise across all examined frameworks.

Conclusions:

• Despite shared generic domains, significant country-specific differences exist in nursing competency frameworks.
• Imprecise descriptions of task division may create barriers to international labor mobility for Bachelor-educated RNs.
• Further harmonization and clearer definitions are needed to facilitate cross-border nursing practice.