Our study aimed to find out the views of nurses working in neonatal intensive care units about the limits of professional competencies and to identify situations where the limits are crossed.
Methods: The research employed the focus group method. For this research we had three focus groups with nurses working in neonatal intensive care units. The results of the study were analysed using the thematic analysis described in Braun and Clarke.
Results and conclusions: Based on our research findings, it can be stated that the limits of professional competence of nursing staff working in neonatal intensive care units are defined and clear, but nurses often perform actions exceeding their competencies. This is usually done on the initiative of the nurses themselves, in cases of the deterioration of the state of the newborn, or when doctors delegate their functions to them. Confidence expressed by doctors leads to conflicting feelings of concern and, at the same time, pride in themselves.
Keywords: Intensive care; Professional competency; nurses.