versus

sh1901 · Mar 2, 2009

I think that may depend on what you are rating the competency of and in what kind of facility you are rating this.

I find that people I know who work in nursing homes and are RN's say that they spend most of their time passing meds, and doing the skilled work that the other staff are not permitted by law to do. Therefore, that RN's skills at say, diaper changing, bed linen changing, bed baths, etc. (more of the bed-side care) may not be as good as the nursing assistants or other help at the nursing home.

I suppose that the same could be said in any environment where the nurse to patient ratio is such that nurses are reduced to passing meds the majority of the time. I think that the question requires more criteria before a real answer can be obtained.

Hope this helps!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 2, 2009

I'm not really sure what you're asking? Competent in what and how? Unlicensed persons provide basic care, and some skills such as EKG, etc. and surely they must be competent in their jobs.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Mar 2, 2009

One would have to define certain concepts - like competency, for instance. In the end, it really does not matter. Nursing is protected by the state Nurse Practice Act and we have to practice within that scope. There are tasks, like giving a dose of Tylenol, that would seem to be easy enough for anyone to be competent, but in the hospital setting only a nurse can do it.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Mar 2, 2009

I think you are into word semantics here. The word competent means capable or qualified. Within their scope of practice I have seen some unlicensed personnel who were far more competent in performing their jobs than some RNs. I was a manager and I had to do performance evaluations of many people in these different postions and I sometimes wondered how some RNs ever passed their state board exams and why some nursing assistants never went on to become RNs because they certainly had the brains and horse sense to do the job.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Mar 2, 2009

That is what I meant to say but you did a better job. The point is, who wants to know and why? Just because someone is more competent does not mean they are the right person for the job. The law may say otherwise.

psySins · Mar 4, 2009

who do you prefer more, a competent person without license or a person who is quite competent but has license?