Sammanfattning
Background: The literature shows that the surgical nurses’ complicated and complex skills are
little identified and described.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the operating theatre nurses’ experience of
competence in relation to the work requirements and in relation to specific areas of expertise.
Method: To identify perceived competence, a quantitative cross-sectional study using a
questionnaire was conducted in the period through 2010 to spring 2012. The participants were a total
of 30 respondents. Data processing has been represented with descriptive statistics.
Result: The respondents expressed good correlation between perceived competence and department
work requirements – the highest score was obtained in technical expertise, the lowest score in
relatives expertise. The best scores were those with 10 to 14 years’ experience.
Conclusion: The results show that surgery nurses mostly possess a satisfactory knowledge in
relation to the work requirements. The study may help to focus attention on important issues related
to human resource development – within the non-technical expertise areas also. This can provide the
department data that can be included in planning of competence programmes for the department and
for the individual practitioner.