Background: Multi-morbidity, poly-pharmacy and cognitive impairment leave many old patients in a frail condition\nwith a high risk of adverse outcomes if proper health care is not provided. Knowledge about available competence\nis necessary to evaluate whether we are able to offer equitable and balanced health care to older persons with\nacute and/or complex health care needs. This study investigates the sufficiency of nursing staff competence in\nNorwegian community elderly care.\nMethods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1016 nursing staff in nursing homes and home care services\nwith the instrument ââ?¬Å?Nursing Older People ââ?¬â?? Competence Evaluation Toolââ?¬Â. Statistical analyses were ANOVA and\nmultiple regression.\nResults: We found that nursing staff have competence in all areas measured, but that the level of competence was\ninsufficient in the areas nursing measures, advanced procedures, and nursing documentation. Nursing staff in\nnursing homes scored higher than staff in home care services, and older nursing staff scored lower than younger\nnursing staff.\nConclusions: A reason for the relatively low influence of education and training on competence could be the\ndiffuse roles that nursing staff have in community elderly care, implying that they have poor standards against\nwhich to judge their own competence. Clearer role descriptions for all groups of nursing staff are recommended\nas well as general competence development in geriatric nursing care.
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