National Competency Framework for

Bachelor of Nursing Programs

 Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 46
Glossary ................................................................................................................................................. 67
Challenges ............................................................................................................................................. 8
Benchmarking ........................................................................................................................................ 99
National
The SaudiCompetency Framwork for Nursing
Arabian Baccalaureate BachelorCompetencies
of Nursing Programs .........................................................
.................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 10
11
Professionalism .................................................................................................................................... 11
18
Patient Centered Care ......................................................................................................................... 16
20
Leadership and Management .............................................................................................................. 24
24
Quality and Safety Management .......................................................................................................... 29

28
Health Education and Promotion ......................................................................................................... 34
30
Communication and Information Technology ...................................................................................... 36
30
Information Technology ....................................................................................................................... 36
33
Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 40

34
Recommendation ................................................................................................................................. 40

35
References ........................................................................................................................................... 41

2
 Acknowledgments

The nursing profession is the cornerstone of safe health care and the foundation for distinguished
medical care. In order to promote and develop this great profession in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a
team from the Professional Nursing Council at the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) has
developed and defined basic knowledge and skill competencies in the nursing profession for the
bachelor’s level. This step is very important in enhancing the integration between the nursing colleges in
the Kingdom and the SCFHS and an important factor for developing nursing professional license
examinations that are based on mutual and clear principles that are based on international standards
and best practices.

3
 I am very confident that this important document will have a great role, God willing, in developing
the nursing profession in our country, enhancing patient safety, improving chances of success in the
professional licensing examination as well as the process of assessing local and international
qualifications in the nursing profession to reach more objective and accurate competency assessment
processes.
On this occasion, I am honored to thank Ms. Nabeeha Tashkandi, Chairman of the Professional
Council for her great effort and care in preparing this important document, which will be a milestone in
nursing education in our country, asking God Almighty to reward them with the best reward and to bless
their wonderful efforts and the efforts of all sincere in developing this profession great. I would also
thank the members of the council and the representative of the Nursing Dean Council in Saudi Arabia
whose names are listed below for their valuable input.
This appreciation also extends to Dr.Fatmah Alsolami, Dr.Manal Banaser, Dr.Nahar AlReshidi,
Dr.Roa Altaweli, Ms. Maysaa Mazhar, Mr. Qasem Alnasr and Shougi Makafi respected members of the
Nursing Professional Council who have actively been involved in finalizing this project. This work
represents the accumulation of various experiences of nursing professionals and hence recommended
to be recognized in high regard.
Secretary General, SCFHS

Prof. Ayman Abdo

4
 Contributors:
Chairperson of the Nursing Professional Council (SCFHS):

Nabiha Tashkandi, MSN, RN. Roa Altaweli, PhD, RN, MSc, PGCert, PGDip.
Associate Executive Director of Nursing Director of Midwifery Department at the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia
King Abdulaziz Medical City for National Guard, Riyadh Chairperson of the Saudi Midwifery Group

Members of the Nursing Professional Council (SCFHS): Maysaa Abdulwahab Mazhar, MSN, RN.
Senior Nurse Supervisor in Nursing Administration at Directorate of Health Affairs in Holy Ma
Fatmah Jabr Alsolami, PhD, RN, MSN.
Qasem Alnasr, MSN-Onc, RN.
Associate Professor
Director of the Oncology Diploma Program - SCFHS/KFSHRC
Dean of the Faculty of Nursing
Education Coordinator Oncology Transplant Nursing
Faculty of Nursing, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah
Nursing Development and Saudization
King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre
Manal Banaser, PhD, RN, MSc.
Head of Nursing Research and Practice Development
Shougi Makafi, M.Clin. RN.
Nursing Affairs General Department,
Head of Nursing Research
Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia, Riyadh
Education and Staff Development King Fahd Central Hospital, Jazan.

Nahar Mohammad AlReshidi, PhD, RN, MSN.

Member of Saudi Nursing Associations (SCFHS)
Member of the Nursing Professional
King Salman Specialist Hospital- Hail
5
The Nursing Dean Council Representative:
Friyal Mubarak Alqahtani, PhD, RN, MSN.
Associate Professor
Dean of the Faculty of Nursing
Faculty of Nursing, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Dammam
 Introduction
Competencies are the key to success in producing capable and caring nursing students. Nursing competencies
incorporate core abilities that are required for fulfilling one’s role as a nurse (Fukuda, 2018). Students must have these
skills to set them up for professional nursing roles. These competencies are meant to guarantee that graduates have
the fundamental information, aptitudes, and performances to enter the workforce and start working in entry level
positions (Anema and McCoy, 2010).

In 2018, a health workforce planning conference was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to forecast the future
demand of the healthcare workforce in Saudi Arabia. One of the recommendations was to develop and formulate a
competency framework for Bachelor degree in nursing. The Nursing Professional Council under the umbrella of
Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) was appointed to lead this project and a task force was formed
including representation from Deans of Nursing Colleges Committee. Thirty meetings were conducted before
finalizing the new framework in a document that is expected to serve as a guide for the creation and updating of the
Saudi Nursing Licensing Exam (SNLE) blueprint, a base for registered nurses entry level to practice and a backbone
for Saudi Nursing scope of Practice (under development). Moreover, this document supports the national standards
of program accreditation.

The taskforce reviewed several International competency frameworks and nursing education guidelines from
various countries and benchmarked them in order to formulate and develop a competency framework suitable for the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Literature from various countries like USA, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, South
Korea, Hong Kong were sought to benchmark nursing students’ core competencies. Seven themes were derived and
presented in this document with a detailed description under the three (3) domains of learning specified in the National
Qualifications Framework (NQF) which is knowledge, skills and values.

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 National Competency Framwork for Bachelor of Nursing Programs

Glossary
Nursing graduate Graduate of 4 years of Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and completed the
compulsory year of the internship program in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Competence A person's overall capacity to demonstrate an autonomous nursing clinical

practice that is built on a foundation of scientific knowledge, basic skills, and
reflect moral development (ten Cate and Scheele, 2007; Epstein and
Hundert,2002).

Competency The integration of knowledge, skills, values, attitude and abilities expected and
required for nurses in their practice settings (Carraccio et al., 2002; Eraut, 1994;
Frank et al., 2010).

Knowledge Broad awareness, understanding and critical view of the principle theories,
concepts and terminology of the discipline (Zander, 2007).

Skills The ability and capacity of using the acquired knowledge effectively to
demonstrate competence (Tsimane and Downing, 2019).

7
 The seven themes are:
1. Professionalism.
2. Patient Centered Care.
3. Evidence Based Practice & Research.
4. Leadership and Management.
5. Quality and Safety Management.
6. Health Education and Promotion.
7. Communication and Information Technology.

Challenges
1. Few to none available resources pertaining to nursing student competencies.
2. Alignment to National Qualifications Framework (NQF).
3. Selection of core competencies appropriate for nursing students in Saudi Arabia.
4. Parallelism with the present nursing curriculum.
5. Mitigating gaps between nursing practice, theory and education.
6. Matching the international competency framework to the local context of Saudi Arabia.

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 Benchmarking
In order to come up with the new framework, the team conducted extensive reviews of nursing competencies
for both professionals and students from USA, UK, Canada, Australia, South Korea, and Hong Kong. The
benchmarked nursing competencies from USA, UK, Australia, Canada and Hong Kong were considered because
they showed applicability for the students in KSA. Specifically, these were the (a) Massachusetts Nurse of the Future
Nursing Core Competencies: Registered Nurse of Massachusetts (Department of Higher Education Nursing Initiative,
2016), (b) Standards for Competence for Registered Nurse (Nursing and Midwifery Council in the United Kingdom,
2010), (c) National Competency Standards for The Registered Nurse (Nursing and Midwifery Board Australia, 2010),
(d) Competencies in The Context of Entry Level Registered Nurse Practice in British Columbia (British Columbia
College of Nursing Professional in Canada, 2015) and (e) the Core-Competencies for Registered Nurses (Nursing
Council of Hong Kong, 2012).

The task force reviewed all the competencies of nursing boards in USA, UK, Australia, Canada and Hong Kong
and started drafting new core competencies appropriate for nursing students based on the qualification framework in
Saudi Arabia. Several meetings were conducted before finalizing the various components in the new framework such
as the student’s roles and nursing abilities under the three (3) domains of learning specified in the National
Qualifications Framework (NQF) knowledge, skills and values.

Domains in each theme are:

Knowledge – Theoretical Factual.
Skills – Practical Application of Knowledge.
Values , Autonomy and Responsibility – Professional Practice and Attributes.

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 National Competency Framwork for Bachelor of Nursing Programs

10 Figure 1. National Competency Framwork for Bachelor of Nursing Program

 Professionalism
The Nursing graduate will demonstrate accountability and responsibilities for the delivery of nursing
care that is consistent with moral, ethical, legal, humanistic and regulatory principles.
Competency 1: Professionalism
Knowledge
K1. Recognizes the professional
standards of practice for Nursing
Professionals.
K2. Recognizes the differences in
accountability and responsibility between
registered nurses, nurse technicians and
licensed health care assistants.
11
Skills (Application of Knowledge)
S1a. Applies nursing in accordance with
relevant Saudi Arabia scope of practice for
registered nurses and Nursing
Professionals.
S1b. Assesses personal capabilities, areas
for development and knowledge-based
practice.
S2a. Explains the role and responsibility of
a registered nurse as a member of the
nursing and healthcare team.
S2b. Analyzes breaches of practice that
occur to report them to the appropriate
person(s).
Values ,Autonomy and Responsibility
( Professional Practice & Attributes)
V1a. Displays professional judgment when
using organizational policies and procedures.
V1b. Advocates for patient’s rights
V1c. Demonstrates nursing professional
behaviors
V2a. Demonstrates a professional presence
and models professional behavior.
V2b. Displays responsibilities and the
accountabilities for own action, decisions, and
professional conduct according to the scope of
practice of registered nurses in Saudi Arabia
V2c. Advocates for the dignity, culture, values,
beliefs and rights of individuals/groups.
 Competency 1: Professionalism
Knowledge
K3. Underlines the concept of autonomy
and self-regulation in nursing practice.
K4a. Describes factors essential to the
promotion of professional development.
K4b. Identifies the role of the nursing
professional organizations in shaping the
future of nursing practice.
12
Skills (Application of Knowledge)
S3a. Explains various sources of
autonomy in nursing practice
S3b. Discusses justifications for his/her
own decisions related to patient care in
health care organization
S4a. Organizes opportunities for
continuous learning.
S4b. Plans professional nursing practice.
Values ,Autonomy and Responsibility
( Professional Practice & Attributes)
V3a. Accepts the responsibility to function
within appropriate behavioral norms suitable to
the discipline of nursing and the health care
organization.
V3b. Demonstrates advocacy for nursing’s role,
accountability, professional autonomy, and self-
regulation.
V3c. Displays a positive image for the nursing
profession.
V4a. Advocates for continuous learning.
V4b. Values the organizational collaboration for
professional development.
 Competency 1: Professionalism
Knowledge
K5. Identifies the requirements for
delegation and supervision of practice.
K6. Describes roles and responsibilities
as patient advocates.
13
Skills (Application of Knowledge)
S5a. Organizes own work based on
priority.
S5b. Employ time management skills to
meet responsibilities.
S6. Appraises situations which need nurse
role as patient advocates.
Values ,Autonomy and Responsibility
( Professional Practice & Attributes)
V5a. Demonstrates leadership in patient care
by promoting a healthy and culturally safe
practice environment.
V5.b. Accepts accountability for directing,
monitoring and evaluating nursing care that is
provided by nursing technicians and Health
care assistants.
V5c. Seeks advice from a senior registered
nurse if unsure about the role and competence
of nurses’ technicians and Health care assistant
when delegating work.
V6. Values responsibilities and nurse role as
patient advocates.
 Competency 1: Professionalism
Knowledge
K7. Recognizes values, ethical principles,
and decision making that relate to patient
care, professional nursing practice and
inter-professional collaboration.
14
Skills (Application of Knowledge)
S7a. Incorporates the nursing professional
code of ethics into the daily practice.
S7b. Applies an ethical decision-making
framework in clinical practice
S7c. Judges nursing practice ethical
concerns, issues, and dilemmas
Values ,Autonomy and Responsibility
( Professional Practice & Attributes)
V7a. Compplies with the application of ethical
principles in daily practice.
V7b. Performs in accordance with code of
ethics and standards of practice
V7c. Demonstrates honesty and integrity in
relationships with patients, families, and other
health care team members.
 Patient Centered Care
The Nursing graduate will deliver compassionate and coordinated care that recognizes patients’
preferences, values, and needs and respects the patient as an active partner in providing holistic, safe,
and effective care.
Competency 2: Patient Centered Care
Knowledge
K1. Recognizes the five steps of the nursing
process that is suitable for patient, family
and community values over life expectancy.
K2. Recognizes that care and services are
delivered in a variety of settings and
different cultural backgrounds along a
continuum of care that can be accessed at
any point.
15
Skills (Application of Knowledge)
S1a. Assesses patient, family and
community values throughout the
application of clinical assessment
interview, implementation of care plan
and, evaluation of care.
S1b. Demonstrates cognitive nursing skills
when delivering direct patient care.
S2a. Assesses patient’s preferences and
expressed needs throughout the phases of
the nursing process.
S2b. Explains personal attitudes about
working with patients from different
ethnic, cultural and social backgrounds.
Values ,Autonomy and Responsibility
( Professional Practice & Attributes)
V1a. Values the use of scientific examination,
as demonstrated in the nursing process, as
an essential tool for the provision of nursing
care.
V1b. Displays the differences between data
collection and assessment.
V2a. Defends the views and perceptions of
patients about health care services.
V2b. Advocates for the patient’s active
participation in choices about their health
care needs and services.
 Competency 2: Patient Centered Care
Knowledge
K3. Describes multiple
dimensions of patient-centered
care including:
Patient/family/community
preferences, values
Coordination and integration of care.
Information, communication,
and education.
Physical comfort and emotional support.
Involvement of family and significant other.
Care transition and continuity.
K4a. Identifies the diversity of the human
response to health conditions.
K4b. Describes cultural diversity, ethnic,
religious and socioeconomic backgrounds
function as bases of patient, family, and
community values.
16
Skills (Application of Knowledge)
S3a. Discusses patient values,
preferences, and needs with other
members of health care team involved in
their care.
S3b. Demonstrates patient values and
preferences and needs in ongoing
assessment, clinical interviews,
implementation of care plan and
evaluation of care phases.
S4a. Plans nursing care to meet the
comprehensive needs of patients on
cultural, social, ethnic, and religious
beliefs influencing human services and
nursing practice.
Values ,Autonomy and Responsibility
( Professional Practice & Attributes)
V3a. Accepts the patient’s view regarding
their own health needs and concerns.
V3b. Displays the collaborative care
approach involving multidisciplinary team
contribution to patient centered care.
V3c. Applies patient-centered care with
compassion and respect for the diversity of
human experience.
V4a. Seeks learning opportunities in all
aspects of human diversity and the inherent
values and uniqueness of individuals and
populations.
V4b. Accepts diverse backgrounds and
cultures of healthcare providers during
collaborative care.
 Competency 2: Patient Centered Care
Knowledge
K4c. Recognizes human behavior, which is
affected by diverse cultural backgrounds,
socioeconomics, race, religious beliefs,
gender, lifestyle, and age.
K5a. Recognizes the concept of health
across the continuum, comprising chronic
conditions, palliative care, and quality of
life.
K5b. Identifies the concepts of health
maintenance and wellness.
17
Skills (Application of Knowledge) Values ,Autonomy and Responsibility
( Professional Practice & Attributes)
S4b. Explains the effect of personal V4c. Demonstrates caring practices toward
attitudes, values and beliefs of diverse patient, family, community, and population
patients in the delivery of care. receiving care.
S4c. Constructs patient-centered care for
individuals and groups considering their
different beliefs and values.
S5a. Assesses the degree of physical and V5a. Verifies the role of the nurse in relieving
emotional well-being and self-care all types and sources of pain and suffering.
abilities.
V5b. Defends strategies to promote health
S5b. Prioritizes the preferences of patient maintenance/ self-management ability.
and family for the help of pain, discomfort,
V5c. Demonstrates nursing interventions to
distress, and end-of-life care.
relieve pain and suffering in light of patient
S5c. Analyses the impact of personal values, preferences, and expressed needs.
values and beliefs about the management
of chronic conditions, pain and suffering
and end-of-life care.
 Evidence Based Practice & Research
The Nursing graduate will be able to conduct scientific research related to current trends, issues in
nursing, appraise evidence-based practice by using their clinical expertise and make clinical decisions
based on patients’ preferences, experience and values (Adapted from QSEN, 2007).
Competency 3: Evidence Based Practice & Research
Knowledge Skills (Application of Knowledge)
K1. Describes the concepts of evidence- S1a. Demonstrates the concept of
based practices (EBP). evidence-based practice as an integral
part of assessing best practices.
S1b. Compares clinical findings from
summaries of research and evidence.
S1c. Constructs individualized care plan
based on best evidence based practice
K2. Identifies the role of evidence based on S2. Combines own experience and clinical
deciding best clinical practice. skills limitations before finding evidence
and altering clinical practice.
18
Values ,Autonomy and Responsibility
( Professional Practice & Attributes)
V1a. Applies findings of research and
evidence to areas of practice.
V1b. Accepts the responsibility to maintain
professional development in clinical practice
based on new evidence-based practice.
V1c. Displays the importance of accessing
relevant clinical evidence.
V2. Use best practice and evidence based at
the patient level, clinical level and population
level as well as throughout the health care
system.
 Competency 3: Evidence Based Practice & Research
Knowledge
K3. Recognizes rationale for evidence
based when developing or modifying
clinical practices.
K4. Outlines current trends, issues and
relevant research topics in nursing and in
the community.
K5. Recognizes the knowledge and
techniques of scientific research.
19
Skills (Application of Knowledge)
S3. Interpret evidence based when
developing or modifying clinical practices.
S4a. Appraises clinical information
critically.
S4b. Constructs clinical questions for
potential research.
S5. Discusses the guidelines and
requirements for protecting human
subjects for research purposes.
Values ,Autonomy and Responsibility
( Professional Practice & Attributes)
V3a. Integrates new evidence into standards
and guidelines of nursing practice.
V3b. Displays the importance of accessing
relevant clinical evidence.
V4a. Seeks relevant information
tocontemporary healthcare issues.
V4b. Realizes contemporary issues affecting
the individual and the community.
V4c. Seeks to collaborate with health-care
team members to respond to changes in the
healthcare system by recognizing changes
reflecting on the current trends and issues in
nursing and in the community.
V5a. Complies with ethical conduct in practice
and research.
V5b. Demonstrates an appreciation for
attending research classes.
 Leadership and Management
"The Nursing graduate will demonstrate leadership and management competencies to have
affect the conduct of nursing and healthcare professionals in their community in a way that will facilitate
the establishment and fulfillment of shared goals". (Tomey, 2009)

Competency 4: Leadership and Management

Knowledge Skills (Application of Knowledge) Values ,Autonomy and Responsibility

( Professional Practice & Attributes)

K1. Identifies leadership and
management theories and styles.
S1a. Employs leadership skills in V1a. Values the importance of nursing
patient care by promoting health and leadership role.
appropriate culturally sensitive
V1b. Demonstrates teamwork with members
practice.
of the healthcare team in delivering patient
S1b. Demonstrates leadership care.
behaviors throughout collaboration and
communication with other health care
team.

K2. Describes aspects of clinical S2a. Illustrates high standards of care V2a. Recognizes the value of clinical
governance, responsibility and to cultivate excellence in nursing governance in health care to ensure safety
accountability. practice. and quality.

V2b. Displays accountability and commitment

throughout the nursing performance.

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 Competency 4: Leadership and Management
Knowledge
K3. Recognizes the role and responsibility
of a registered nurse as a member of the
health care team.
K4. Recognizes critical thinking and
problem-solving processes.
K5. Describes change management
strategies.
21
Skills (Application of Knowledge)
S3a. Demonstrates management skills
in planning, organizing, staffing,
directing and controlling.
S3b. Appraises healthcare team
diversity in culture, communication,
contribution and input.
S4a. Discusses critical thinking skills in V4a. Displays the critical thinking process in
relation to knowledge and technology
that is used to improve and support
patient care and advance nursing
practice.
S5a. Examines consequences, plans
ahead, and change approaches to
improve outcomes.
S5b. Discusses the implementation of
the change process to improve patient
care, work environment, patient and
staff satisfaction.
S5c. Explains the reasons and essence
of change.
Values ,Autonomy and Responsibility
( Professional Practice & Attributes)
V3a. Accepts responsibility in completing
assigned work and communicating about
completed and incomplete work.
V3b. Advocates for the diversity and expertise
of each member of the health care team.
the management of patient care.
V4b. Uses basic conflict resolution strategies
in different situations through critical thinking
and decision-making skills.
V5a. Accepts new ideas and innovation to
improve patient care and remain open to new
initiatives and approaches.
V5b. Applies change management strategies
according to different situations and contexts.
 Competency 4: Leadership and Management
Knowledge
K6a. Identifies the principle of motivation
and self-growth in face of stressor and
changing demand.
K6b. Underlines basic principles of stress
management technique.
K7. Describes the principles of
accountability and delegation.
22
Skills (Application of Knowledge)
S6a. Summarizes personal attitudes,
beliefs and experiences influence one's
leadership style.
S7. Applies principles of delegation for
nursing activities based on the
competence of delegated staff.
Values ,Autonomy and Responsibility
( Professional Practice & Attributes)
V6a. Demonstrates motivational approaches
based on exist situations through critical
thinking and decision-making skills.
V6b. Seeks opportunities for improvement and
ongoing learning.
V6c. Completes tasks under pressure and
within the expected timeframe.
V6d. Recognizes own limits and challenges
and consults with nursing and other health
professionals to enhance professional growth.
V7a. Displays accountability for own decisions,
professional judgment and actions.
V7b. Accept accountability when delegating to
other nursing support teams by directing,
monitoring and evaluating nursing care
provided to ensure safety.
 Competency 4: Leadership and Management

Knowledge Skills (Application of Knowledge) Values ,Autonomy and Responsibility

( Professional Practice & Attributes)

K8. Recognizes health care challenges C8. Discusses health care challenges V8a. Participates in policy development
and the process of policymaking. that affect the nursing profession and activities that will support safe and
patient care. standardize patient care.

V8b. Displays the nursing role in the

contribution and advocating for changes in
policies and practice.

23
 Quality and Safety Management
"Quality: The Nursing graduate will be aware and uses information to display the effects of
care given
and uses improvement techniques to design and check modifications to continuously enhance the fine a
nd protection of health care systems". (QSEN, 2007)

"Safety: The Nursing graduate will minimize chance of harm to patients and health care providers
through both system effectiveness and individual performance". (QSEN, 2007 )

Competency 5: Quality and Safety Management

Knowledge Skills ( Application of Knowledge) Competence (Autonomy and Responsibility,

Practice, Attributes)

K1. Identifies basic safety principles S1a. Demonstrates strategies of V1a. Verifies a culture of safety and security
within healthcare sector. patient safety and risk management for the client without violating any of the
skills. patient's rights.

S1b. Appraises the accountability of V1b. Displays effective use of technology and
both individuals and the system for a standardized practices that support safe
safe culture. practice.

24
 Competency 5: Quality and Safety Management
Knowledge
K2. Identifies the roles of patients,
families, individual clinicians, healthcare
teams and systems that contribute to
promoting safety and reducing errors.
K3a. Describes general categories of risk
and hazards in care.
K3b. Describes the steps of the risk
management process and
communication.
K3c. Identifies predictors of occupational
hazards.
25
Skills ( Application of Knowledge)
S2a. Analyzes unsafe practices by self
and others.
S2b. Judges the value of analyzing
system and individual accountability
when errors or near misses occur.
S3a. Distinguishes types of risk based
on critical thinking and perform steps
of risk management processes.
S3b. Discusses safety measures to
protect self and colleagues from injury
or potentially abusive situations (e.g.,
aggressive clients, appropriate
disposal of sharps, lifting devices, low
staffing levels, increasing workload
and acuity of care).
Competence (Autonomy and Responsibility,
Practice, Attributes)
V2a. Performs risk management analysis and
system enhancement to reduce the risk of
harm to self and others.
V2b. Accepts responsibility for own actions
and decisions, including personal safety.
V2c. Demonstrates responsibility to
communicate observations or concerns
related to hazards and errors involving
patients, families and/or healthcare team.
V3a. Displays the importance of transparency
in communications with patients, families and
healthcare team around safety and adverse
events.
V3b. Adheres to maintain an environment that
enables patient’s safety, independence, quality
of life, and health.
V3c. Demonstrates compliance with personal
protective equipment (PPE) and standard
precautions.
 Competency 5: Quality and Safety Management
Knowledge
K4. Describes processes used in
understanding the causes of error and the system for reporting errors.
allocation of responsibility and
accountability.
K5. Recognizes effective strategies to
minimize interruption and relying on
memory and recall in patient care.
K6. Describes the difference between
quality improvement and quality
management within the nursing context.
26
Skills ( Application of Knowledge)
S4a. Uses an organizational reporting
S4b. Discusses the accountability of all
healthcare providers and the
complexity of healthcare system.
S4c. Applies the principles of reliability
to health care system to prevent
failure, identify and mitigate failure and attention on assuring safe practice.
redesign process in identified failure.
S5. Demonstrates appropriate
strategies to reduce reliance on
memory and interruption.
S6. Creates information about quality
improvement in own health care
settings and from relevant institutional, practice.
regulatory bodies from local or
international sources.
Competence (Autonomy and Responsibility,
Practice, Attributes)
V4a. Volunteers in data collection to facilitate
effective provision of care and system
improvement.
V4b. Complies with the systems' benchmarks
that arise from established safety initiatives.
V4c. Uses established safety resources for
professional development and to focus
V4d. Completes safety surveys and error
reporting to improve the overall reliability of a
complex system.
V5. Pursues the accountability of both
individual and system for maintaining a safe
culture.
V6a. Demonstrates that quality improvement
activities are an essential part of nursing
V6b. Displays Compliance with principles of
quality improvement.
 Competency 5: Quality and Safety Management
Knowledge
K7. Recognizes the role of nursing that
contributes to the system of care and
process that affects outcomes.
K8. Underlines methods and processes
for quality care improvement.
K9. Describes the quality improvement
project with the awareness of diverse
populations and issues.
27
Skills ( Application of Knowledge)
S7a. Evaluates system improvement
based on clinical practice data.
S7b. Discusses quality improvement
initiatives to make the process of care
interdependent and explicit.
S8. Supports standardization of quality
improvement projects that enhances
patient care.
S9a. Construct changes in the delivery
of care with consideration to a diverse
population.
S9b. Demonstrates best practices to
prevent harm.
Competence (Autonomy and Responsibility,
Practice, Attributes)
V7. Values the importance of team
collaboration in quality improvement projects
and values the input of the inter-professional
team.
V8a. Volunteers in the analysis, development,
implementation and evaluation of quality
projects focusing on clinical practice to
enhance policies that guide the delivery of
care.
V8b. Follows the national and international
quality standards and benchmarks.
V9a. Displays the value of the individuals and
team inputs in improving patient care and
outcomes.
V9b. Volunteers in the use of quality
improvement practices.
 Health Education and Promotion
The Nursing graduate will be able to identify communities, individuals and patients’ needs related to
their health preventions, and promote healthy behaviors by providing health information and educational
activities using reliable resources with respect to different age groups and cultural backgrounds.

Competency 6: Health Education and Promotion

Knowledge Skills ( Application of Knowledge) Competence (Autonomy and

Responsibility, Practice, Attributes)

K1a. Recognizes up to date
educational theories.
K1b. Identifies the concept of health
education, and related teaching
strategies.
S1a. Demonstrates teaching skills through
providing health education to patients and
families.
S1b. Explains educational principles and
counseling techniques appropriately and
effectively with respect to diversity.
V1a. Seeks related theories and principles
related to education and delivery of
information.
V1b. Applies theories and practice of health
education and health promotion for the
individual, group and community with
respect to diversity.

K2. Recognizes health related learning S2. Uses information from different reliable V2. Responds to the differences inf clients’
needs of clients with respect to sources for planning and improving health health learning needs.
Personal, environmental and promotion and health education activities.
community health backgrounds.
28
 Competency 6: Health Education and Promotion
Knowledge
K3a. Identify different modalities of
care to support patients' care
preferences.
K3b. Recognize principles of disease
prevention and health promotion with
respect to social and cultural aspects.
K4. Describes principles of lifestyle
modifications.
29
Skills ( Application of Knowledge)
S2b. Generates health information to specific
patient's needs with respect to different age
groups and cultural background.
S3a. Analyses contemporary health issues
affecting the individual and the community.
S3b. Supports the activities for health
education and promotion at local, national
and international levels.
S4. Creates an educational plan for disease
prevention and quality of life promotion.
Competence (Autonomy and
Responsibility, Practice, Attributes)
V3a. Demonstrates communication skills
and proper trusted relationship with clients,
family and community.
V3b. Displays respect patients' care
choices.
V3c. Advocates for patient's rights in regard
to treatments plan.
V4. Values individual cultural and personal
diversity.
 Communication and Information Technology
The Nursing graduate is expected to maintain effective communication and interaction with patients
and their families notwithstanding their co-workers. They will also be expected to foster mutual respect
for one another and harbor cooperative decision-making with the outcome of optimizing patient
Satisfaction and the overall improvement of the patient’s health outcomes.
Information Technology
The Graduate Nurse will be expected to take advantage of these developments to analyze and
synthesize information in order to collaboratively make critical decisions for the best patient outcome.
(National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2015)

Competency 7: Communication and Information Technology

Knowledge Skills ( Application of Knowledge) Competence (Autonomy and Responsibility,

Practice, Attributes)

K1. Recognizes the importance of
effective and efficient communication
with patients and other healthcare
providers in both verbal and written
forms of communication.
30
S1a. Demonstrates appropriate
information sharing within the scope
of practice to individuals/groups.
S1b. Employs written and spoken
communication skills appropriate to
the needs of individuals/groups.
S1c. Generates clarification when
questions, directions and decisions
are unclear or not understood.
V1a. Shows the importance of communicating new
information and revisions to members of the health
care team as necessary.
V1b. Accepts the responsibility to establish
appropriate alternative communication methods for
individuals/groups who are unable to verbalize their
needs.
V1c. Communicates transparently with healthcare
providers, patients and the community.
 Competency 7: Communication and Information Technology
Knowledge
K2. Describes the nurse's role and
responsibility of applying the
principles of written, verbal, non-
verbal and electronic communication
and active listening.
K3. Identifies appropriate
communication tools utilized
throughout patient care.
31
Skills ( Application of Knowledge)
S2a. Clearly and accurately presents
self with respect to name, title and
role.
S2b. Demonstrate skills in written,
verbal, non-verbal and electronic
communication.
S2c. Applies established
communication policies and protocols individuals/groups.
within and across health care
organizations.
S2d. Practices documentation
according to organizational
guidelines and procedures.
S3a. Distinguishes different forms of
communication including, auditory,
visual and tactical relevant to
patient's needs.
Competence (Autonomy and Responsibility,
Practice, Attributes)
V2a. Values the effects of psychological,
physiological, developmental, spiritual and cultural
influences on one’s own ability to communicate.
V2b. Demonstrates honesty, integrity and respect in
all professional interactions.
V2c. Demonstrates written and spoken
communication skills appropriate to the needs of
V2d. Displays rapport with individuals/groups to
enhances their ability to express feelings
inanappropriate context.
V3a. Displays the importance of utilizing different
communication and documentation tools either
electronic or non-electronic.
V3b. Applies clear, concise, effective, electronic,
non-electronic, written and non-verbal
communication.
 Competency 7: Communication and Information Technology

Knowledge Skills ( Application of Knowledge) Competence (Autonomy and Responsibility,

Practice, Attributes)

K4. Recognizes the skills of
interprofessional communication and
principles of handover.
S4a. Assess barriers to effective
communication.
S4b.Uses approved organizational
communication policies and tools.
V4a. Values mutual respected collegial
communication.
V4b. Accepts responsibility during a handover of
patient information with respect to patient
confidentiality.

K5. Identifies concepts of Health
Information Systems.
S5a. Demonstrates literacy and V5a. Displays the importance of utilizing information
computer skills necessary to record, technology within the healthcare system.
enter, store, retrieve and organize
V5b. Applies clinical technologies in nursing
data essential for care delivery.
interventions.
S5b. Creates information
systematically in an accessible and
retrievable form.

S5c. Operates electronic health

records.

K6. Describes the role of technology
and information management in
improving quality, safety and
outcomes of patient care.
32
S6a. Uses information management V6a. Justifies the contribution of technology as a
tools to monitor outcomes of the care tool to improve patient safety and quality of care.
process.
V6b. Shares the use of new patient care
S6b. Discusses the limitation of technologies for safe quality care.
technology and nursing practices that
cannot be performed by computers or
technology.
 Conclusion
The framework embraces the appropriate core competencies for nursing students to successfully mitigate the
gaps between nursing education and practice. The seven identified core competencies encompass the entire nursing
curriculum in preparing students for professional nursing roles. Also, the competencies parallel the three domains of
NQF: knowledge, skills and Values.

33
 Recommendation
Ǧ The nursing colleges need to design nursing program including curriculum, student activities, assessment tools
and evaluation processes in order to achieve these competencies which will be demonstrated by nursing students
and graduates at the entry level of practice.

Ǧ It is recommended that updates or modifications of the current nursing programs to align their curriculums to fit
these competencies.

Ǧ It is important to map the competencies with the following:

 Program learning outcomes (PLOs).

 Course objectives.

 Course learning outcome.

 Course content.

 Assessment methods (formative & summative).

 Evaluation tools.

 Teaching strategy.

 Program outcome measures.

34
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