Quality of life and its influence on clinical competence among nurses: a self-reported study

Abstract

Aim and objective: This study aimed to investigate the quality of life and its influence on self-reported clinical competence among nurses.

Background: Over the years, various studies have focused on the competence of nurses in clinical settings, indicating the paramount importance placed on ensuring superior levels of competence among nurses. The nature of the work in this profession is both stressful and challenging, which can pose a threat to the nurses and may impact their quality of life. Low quality of life may affect the quality of services that nurses are duty bound to provide to their patients.

Methods: A convenience sample of 163 staff nurses was surveyed in this descriptive, cross-sectional study using the RAND 36-Item Health Survey 1·0, and the Nurse Competence Scale, with which to gather the data. Multivariate multiple regression and stepwise multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationships among variables.

Results: A majority of the respondents were married, females, holding a bachelor's degree and with ≥7 years of clinical experience. The respondents reported the highest mean score for quality of life in the 'role limitation due to emotional problems' dimension, whereas 'vitality' dimension received the lowest. A very good competence in all the categories measured for clinical competence was also reported. 'Managing situation' received the highest score among the dimensions of clinical competence, whereas 'ensuring quality' received the lowest. Number of years of clinical experience, educational level, marital status, 'role limitation due to emotional problems', 'emotional well-being', 'social functioning' and 'physical functioning' were identified as key factors that were likely to influence clinical competence.

Conclusions: Improved quality of life may possibly affect the level of competence of staff nurses.

Relevance to clinical practice: Ensuring good quality of life among nurses is underscored. Efforts to enhance quality of life of nurses should be initiated to ensure high quality of care. Resultant findings should be taken into account by nurse managers when planning programmes and activities for improvement of competence among nurses.

Keywords: competence; nurse; nursing practice; quality of care; quality of life.