Factors Affecting the Process of Obtaining Clinical Competency

Abstract

Background & Objective: Nurses form most significant sector of health care provision and play a fundamental role in providing on-going quality care for patients. To attain clinical competency, it is essential to understand influencing it. Due to fact that clinical competency is directly affected by specific features of educational and health care system and medical training within each country, it is necessary to assess influencing clinical competency. Materials & Methods: This study was based on Grounded Theory method. The sample of 36 comprised of clinical nurses, as well as trainers and managers within Ministry of Health and Medical Training, Nursing and Midwifery faculties, hospitals and members of Nursing Council in Tehran. Data was obtained through semi-structured interviews, which were recorded and subsequently transcribed. The analysis was carried out by Straus and Corbin method. Results: In this study, personal were identified as one of contextual affecting clinical competency. The respondents branded this category as the internal and personal This included a significant number of sub-categories such as education and skill, moral values, consciousness responsibility and accountability. Another category was identified as the external and organizational factors which included categories such as educational and clinical environments, work license, control and supervision and effective educational system. Conclusion: The clinical competency process resulted from interaction between three ethics, effective experience and environmental factors.