Perceived Importance and Performance of Critical Care Nursing Competency by Nurses’ Clinical Expertise

Background and Purpose: To enhance critical care competency, it is necessary to develop and apply a clinical expertise-based competency training program. This study aimed to identify the perceived importance and performance of critical care nursing competency and the training priorities of competency-based training programs by nurses’ clinical expertise. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive survey with a convenience sample of 236 intensive care unit nurses. The critical care nursing competency of nurses was measured. Training needs were determined using an importance-performance analysis. Results: Competency areas with high training priority on the importance-performance matrix were skin assessment, emotional support, Code of Ethics, and collaboration for novice nurses, skin assessment and patient education for advanced beginner nurses, skin assessment and decision-making for competent nurses, and patient education and interprofessional collaboration for proficient nurses. Implications for Practice: Different training needs were identified according to the self-reported level of clinical expertise at four levels. Nursing administrators and educators should provide competency-based continuing education programs based on high-priority training areas according to the nurses’ clinical expertise.