Abstract:

Objective To know the status and influencing factors of the nurses’ competence in implementing the discharge planning for older patients. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted among 1 021 nurses from 17 public general hospitals in Ningxia through three stages of stratified sampling by using the Core Competence Scale of Nurse-led Discharge Planning for Elderly Patients and Chinese version of the Nurse’s Career Identity Scale. Results The nurses’ competence in implementing the discharge planning for older patients were（204.02±43.95）. The lowest score was（68.62±18.41） for “ability of follow-up and effect evaluation” dimension. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that nurse’s career identity,number of training related to the discharge planning each month,being a clinical instructor or not, and working years could explain 34.1% of the total variation. After controlling the general demographic variables,career identity could independently explain 25.2% of the total variation. Conclusion The nurses’ competence in implementing the discharge planning for elderly patients was above the middle level. The nursing managers should pay attention to improve the nurses’ career identity and increase knowledge training related to discharge planning in order to improve nurses’ competence level. In addition,nurses with long working years and teaching experience are more likely to be qualified for discharge planning.

Key words: Nurses, Discharge Planning, Aged, Professional Competence, Questionnaires