Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40781838›Full record

ArticleJournal of clinical nursing2026

Nurses' Self-Reported Professional Competence: A Cross-Sectional Study at a Regional Teaching Hospital in Sweden.

Anne Flodén, Margret Lepp, Per Tilander, Ann Svensson, Jan Nilsson

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of clinical nursing, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Anne FlodénSödra Älvsborg Hospital, Borås, Sweden.
Margret LeppInstitute of Health and Care Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Per TilanderRegion Västra Götaland, Vänersborg, Sweden.
Ann SvenssonSödra Älvsborg Hospital, Borås, Sweden.
Jan NilssonFaculty of Social and Health Sciences, University of Inland Norway, Elverum, Norway.

Funding

Göteborgs Universitet
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimTo investigate and compare the self-assessed professional competence of registered nurses, specialist nurses and midwives at a regional teaching hospital in Sweden. Moreover, to explore associations between potential predictive background factors and self-assessed professional competence.

designA cross-sectional study.

methodsConvenience sample of 615 nurses answered a questionnaire; sociodemographic data, 35-item Nurse Professional Competence Scale, Occupational Self-Efficacy Scale. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Fisher's non-parametric permutation test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Mantel-Haenszel chi-square test, Spearman rank correlation test, calculating sum score. Multiple linear regressions and reliability testing with Cronbach's alpha.

resultsResponse rate, 58.7%; mean age, 44.7 years; work experience, 0.2 years to 45 years (mean 16.4 years); 83.4% women. 82.4% bachelor's degree; out of these, 34.3% with an additional master's degree. 17.6% nursing diploma without an academic degree. The highest mean scores for the NPC Scale were in Value-based nursing care, Medical and technical care. The lowest were in Care pedagogics and Development, leadership and organisation of nursing care. Total mean score 84.3, (79.3-90.0). Specialist nurses scored higher in all areas except Care pedagogics. Predictive factors indicated being a woman was positively associated with higher competence scores in all six areas, β coefficients 2.2-5.3 with p < 0.05. Longer nursing experience was positively associated with higher competence in Nursing care (β 0.17 per year, p = 0.01), Medical and technical care (β 0.14 per year, p = 0.01). The occupational self-efficacy scale was strongly positively associated with higher competence in all areas, β per scale step 0.42-0.63 with p < 0.0001. Nurses without academic degree had lower competence scores in several areas compared to bachelor's degree, β ranges from -3.47 to -2.31, p < 0.05.

conclusionUtilising competence data, the Swedish Enhanced Competence Development Model (vKUM) can effectively support the planning and management of ongoing professional competence development. REPORTING

methodStudy methods and results reported in adherence to STROBE checklist. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: The nurses contributed their consent, time and data to this study.

Indexed as

Clinical CompetenceHospitals, TeachingNursing Staff, HospitalProfessional CompetenceSelf ReportAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSelf EfficacySurveys and QuestionnairesSwedencross‐sectional studymidwivesnurse professional competenceNurse Professional Competence Scale—Short Form (NPC‐SF)Occupational self‐efficacyOccupational Self‐Efficacy Scale—Short Form (OSS‐SF)registered nursesspecialist nursesThe Swedish Enhanced Competence Development Model (vKUM)

Identifiers

PMID40781838
PMCPMC12779241

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.