FACULTY, EMPLOYER, AND CLIENT PERSPECTIVE OF CLINICAL COMPETENCE IN COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH CARE.
Contributors: Columbia University. Teachers College.
Published: 1996
Number of pages: 109
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Health Sciences, Education.; Health Sciences, Public Health.
Description: As health care moves into the community, nursing education must move along with it. Nursing faculty needs to be aware of what skills the new graduate will require for practice in the community based setting, where the care is being delivered. Minimal literature regarding perceptions of competence in community based practice identified a need for further study.

The method of investigation chosen for this study was the Delphi method. The reason for choosing this method was to allow the populations most affected by this shift in healthcare (faculty members, employers and clients) to have a voice in identifying the elements of quality delivery of services. Consensus within and between the participant groups was determined and the characteristics of competence perceived by the groups were identified.

Two categories of characteristics of competence were identified: Knowledge and Skills and Personal Attributes. In the Knowledge and Skills category unique items for community health practice were identified such as Knowledge of Safety Issues for self and patients, Knowledge of environmental issues, Knowledge of basic survival skills, Knowledge of community resources, and Critical thinking and Decision Making. In the Personal Attributes category specific items were such as Creative and Resourceful, Common Sense, Function Independently/Self Confident, Comforting and Encouraging, Kind and Courteous, and Self Learner/Initiative were identified as important for the community health practitioner.

The implications of this study are for change or enhancement in the current curriculum regarding community health education and practicums. It is through the identification of the elements of competence in the specific arena of community health practice and the transmission of these elements to the incoming practitioners that competency will be assured.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-07, Section: B, page: 4296.

Thesis (ED.D.)--COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY TEACHERS COLLEGE, 1996.

School code: 0055.