Kamila Julia Regin
University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
Title: Social competence of mental health nurses
Biography
Biography: Kamila Julia Regin
Abstract
Introduction: The effectiveness of therapeutic interventions is highly determined by social competence of health-care professionals. High level of interpersonal skills is particularly important in mental health nursing, where interpersonal relations are both the integral part and the most important source of the nursing process. Aim: The purpose of the study is to reveal differences in the level of social competence between registered mental health nurses (RMN) and registered general nurses (RGN). Materials & Methods: 150 registered nursing practitioners from Warmia and Mazury region participated in the study. Analysis included data obtained from 94 nurses. Social Competence Questionnaire (SCQ) was used. Results & Discussion: The level of social competence of the majority of studied nurses (3/4) is within an average range (sten 4–7) both in terms of total result and results within individual scales. RMNs have a significantly higher level of social competence than RGNs, with regard to the scale measuring the ability to maintain close interpersonal contact (t = 1,992; p = 0,050). This competence is particularly desirable in the profession of a nurse. Conclusions: To increase the level of social competence of nurses, standards of both undergraduate and postgraduate education should be verified and reviewed.