[Roles and competences of nurses with postgraduate master degree in nursing science in everyday practice. Multicentre descriptive survey]

Abstract

Roles and competences of nurses with postgraduate master degree in nursing science in everyday practice. Multicentre descriptive survey.

Introduction: Few information are available on the role and activities of Italian nurses with Laurea Magistrale (postgraduate master degree in nursing science).

Aim: To describe the implementation of the advanced competences acquired after Laurea Magistrale by nurses, as well as changes in their professional career.

Methods: A multicenter descriptive study on 7 consecutive cohorts (from 2004/2005 to 2011/2012) of nurses of 3 universities of northern Italy was conducted. Data on managerial, teaching, research and clinical competences and changes in the professional role were collected with semi-structured questionnaires.

Results: 232/285 graduates completed the questionnaire; 216 (88.8%) used their managerial competences, 178 (76.7%) educational competences, 122 (52.6%) clinical competences and 115 (49.5%) research competences. Eigthy graduates (34.4%) changed their professional roles, occupying managerial positions (from 89 to 212, +123, 14.5%) and in the education field (from 33 to 44 +11, 4.8%) while the number of nurses with a clinical role decreased (from 110 to 65, -45, -19.4%). The role changes occured mainly after three years from graduation (p = 0.006) with significant differences across areas (p = 0.018).

Discussion: Until recently the main field of occupation of Laureati magistrali was in management but the changing needs of the organizations require a major focus on the clinical competences. The characteristics of contexts that favour or prevent the implementation of the new compentences and the upgrade of the roles should be studied.