Self-Assessed Restorative Care Competence Among Nursing Professionals in Finland: A Cross-Sectional Study

Restorative care (RC) has emerged as a promising approach to meet the growing demand for older adults' social and health services by promoting empowerment, individualization, and functional ability. Self-assessment of RC competence can be a powerful tool for identifying the most important RC learning needs and developing the competence of nursing professionals.

This study explored the levels and associated factors of nursing professionals' self-assessed RC competence for older adults in Northern Finland.

Data for this descriptive cross-sectional study were collected between October and November 2023 from nursing professionals (n = 438) working in different geriatric care units in a well-being services county in Northern Finland, using the Restorative Care Competence Assessment instrument. Descriptive statistical methods such as means, standard deviations, and frequencies as well as analysis of variance were used to analyze associations between background variations and competence scores.

Total self-assessed RC competence was rated as good (mean approximately 3.4 on a 1-5 scale). Patterns were observed by age and years of experience. Younger and less experienced nursing professionals assessed themselves as more competent in certain competence subscales. Furthermore, differences were observed between types of work unit. Nursing professionals in rehabilitation units reported higher RC competence than those in home care.

Younger nursing professionals with less experience, employed in geriatric units in Northern Finland, assessed themselves as more competent in RC. RC competence should be strengthened through regular continuing education and development of RC models.