Identification of factors influencing core competence promotion among professional nurses and midwives: A qualitative study using the COM-B model.

AIM: To identify factors influencing a behaviour of improving core competencies among nurses and midwives in the Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital using the capability, opportunity, motivation and behaviour (COM-B) model. BACKGROUND: With the increasing number of women with pregnancy complications and the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses and midwives are being challenged and enhancing their core competencies is imperative to ensure high-quality care. To develop effective intervention strategies, it is essential to systematically explore what influences nurses and midwives to improve their core competencies. To this end, this study applied the COM-B model of behavioural change. DESIGN: Qualitative study using the COM-B model. METHODS: This qualitative descriptive study was conducted in 2022 using face-to-face interviews, including 49 nurses and midwives. Topic guides for the interviews were developed based on the COM-B model. Transcribed verbatim interviews were analysed using deductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: The COM-B model captures several factors. Capability factors included clinical knowledge and self-directed learning abilities. Opportunity factors included professional education covering necessary clinical skills, adequate clinical practice, personalised training, available time, insufficient clinical learning resources, absence of scientific research resources and support from leadership. Motivational factors were access to long-term work, incentive policies based on individuals' work values and responses to upward social comparison. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggested that prior to developing intervention strategies to enhance the core competencies of nurses and midwives, processing barriers to nurses' and midwives' capabilities, opportunities and motivation can facilitate the implementation of interventions.

Status and influencing factors of nursing and midwifery professionals' core competence- a cross sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to understand the current situation and multiple factors affecting the core competence specializing in the maternal, neonatal and under-five nursing in China. BACKGROUND: Highly skilled nurses and midwives are essential worldwide for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, especially in low- and middle-income countries like China, due to the overwhelming COVID-19 crisis. METHOD: The 890 nurses and midwives from 12 hospitals were investigated in this cross-sectional study, with two questionnaires: the sociodemographic information and competency inventory for the registered nurses. RESULTS: The participants reported a mean total score of 193.78 (±42.19) out of 220 and lowest in critical thinking and research ability (3.01 ± 0.82). The professional title, level, marital status, relationship quality, highest qualification, experience in specialist nurse training, participation in scientific research projects and publishing papers were the influencing factors (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The respondents' core competence needs improvement, especially critical regarding thinking and research ability. In addition, marriage and good or excellent relationship quality are factors that can potentially improve competence. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Targeted interventions for higher core nursing competence need to be implemented, especially focusing on nurses' marital status and emotional support from partners.