Emergency Nurses’ Competency in the Emergency Department Context: A Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND: The availability of clear emergency nurses’ competencies is critical for safe and effective emergency health care services. The study regarding emergency nurses’ competencies remained virtually limited. PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the emergency nurses’ competencies in the clinical emergency department (ED) context as needed by society. METHODS: This qualitative study involved focus group discussions in six groups of 54 participants from three EDs. The data were analysed using grounded theory approach including the constant comparative, interpretations, and coding procedures; initial coding, focused coding and categories. RESULTS: This study revealed 8 core competencies of emergency nurses: Shifting the nursing practice, Caring for acute critical patients, Communicating and coordinating, Covering disaster nursing roles, Reflecting on the ethical and legal standards, Researching competency, Teaching competencies and Leadership competencies. The interconnection of the 8 core competencies has resulted in 2 concepts of extending the ED nursing practice and demanding the advanced ED nursing role. CONCLUSION: The finding reflected the community needs of nurses who work in ED settings and the need for competency development of emergency nurses.