Self-reported nursing competence among registered nurses in Jordan: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Nurses constitute a significant portion of Jordan’s healthcare workforce, and their competence plays a critical role in patient safety and quality of care. Global and national strategies highlight the importance of assessing and improving nursing competence. Despite the critical role of nurses, research on self-reported nursing competence (SRNC) in Jordan remains limited. Aim This study explores self-reported nursing competence (SRNC) among registered nurses (RNs) in Jordan. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 212 RNs from public, private, and teaching hospitals. Data were collected using the short form of the Nursing Professional Competence (NPC) scale, a 35-item instrument scored on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (very low competence) to 7 (very high competence), with higher scores indicating greater perceived professional competence. The derived data was analyzed using SPSS software. Results The overall level of self-reported nursing competence was high, with a mean score of 76.69%. Among these six domains, the domain of “documentation and administration of care” scored the highest (78.26%), and “care pedagogy” scored the lowest (75.23%). The items that scored high included “respectful communication,” “clinical follow-up,” and “documentation,” which scored “to a high degree.” The items that scored lower included “psychological needs,” “group-based education,” and “respect for different values,” which scored “to a fairly high degree.”.”. Conclusions The Jordanian nursing community views itself as very competent; however, improvements are needed in particular fields. Continuous learning and training are required in order to retain and upgrade professional competency. The findings highlight the value of mentorship, a supportive work environment, and continuing education. Future research should include peer and supervisor evaluations to validate self-reported competence and better guide workforce development strategies.