Long term care nursing competence and related factors among Taiwanese nurses: A national survey for those who completed the LTC training course

1.This paper addresses an essential gap in the scope of nursing competence in providing long term care services.2.Providing empirical perception of the evidence in nurses competence in LTC.3.The long term care nursing competence was correlated with LTC-related knowledge, care intention, and practical experience.4.The importance of pursuing continuing education and enhanced intention to improve competence through on-job training will be recommended.

The aim of this study was to explore Taiwanese nurses' LTC competence and to examine its relationship with their LTC-related knowledge, care intention, and practical experience. The total sampling was selected from nurses who participated in a 2013 LTC course offered by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Participants in this study (n = 122) voluntarily provided email addresses and responded to an online survey. A self-developed scale with acceptable reliability and validity was used for data collection. Findings from this study showed median high levels of LTC nursing competence, which was found to be positively correlated with LTC knowledge, care intention, practical experience, continuing education, and marital status. The study revealed that through on-the-job training, nurses' LTC knowledge, care intention, practical experience and nursing competence can be improved, which will benefit the quality of care for LTC clients.