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Table 2 The ranked skills areas. [NB: the slight variations in the numbers are due to a small number of respondents who stated ‘not applicable’ or did not answer the question]

From: What level of competency do experienced nurses expect from a newly graduated registered nurse? Results of an Australian modified Delphi study

Skill Area Year3 (n = 299)

No. of respondents stating the new graduate would be independent (n)

Weighted Score

Percentage independent

Privacy and Dignity

244

4.81

83.849

Demonstrates behaviour conducive to learning

221

4.7

76.207

Personal care - ability to assess, plan implement and evaluate care of clients across a range of settings using a holistic, comprehensive nursing model

201

4.64

68.601

Efficient and Effective Communication

192

4.61

66.667

Communication and Documentation

183

4.56

63.322

Professional Nursing Behaviours - includes collaborative approaches to care

184

4.53

63.230

Therapeutic Nursing Behaviours/ Respectful of personal space

176

4.56

61.754

Preventing Risk and Promoting safety - Duty of care

179

4.53

61.301

Cultural Competence

164

4.47

56.747

Clinical monitoring and management - Use of assessment tools

153

4.45

52.577

Promoting self care

150

4.43

51.903

Critical Analysis & Reflective Thinking

149

4.42

51.557

Planning of Nursing Care

142

4.40

48.797

Learner/Evidence Based Practitioner

132

4.34

45.675

Coordinating Skills Regarding Nursing Process -uses a range of appropriate assessment strategies and skills across a range of settings

124

4.24

43.056

Teamwork and Multidisciplinary Team working

118

4.26

40.830

Learning and developmental culture - Learning environment

116

4.27

40.418

Clinical interventions - preparing, assisting after care (Investigations/surgery/diagnostic)

102

4.24

35.052

Medications and IV Products

101

4.22

34.708

Knowledge of key nursing implications of common medical/surgical patient presentations

95

4.12

32.872

Technology and Informatics

91

4.15

31.597

Different roles of RNs in different treatment or care settings

84

4.10

28.866

Demonstrates Teaching/Educator skills

69

3.86

24.211

Dementia related skills

69

3.97

23.875

Acts as a Resource

65

3.87

22.648

Dealing with emotional and bereaved people

61

3.89

21.034

Mental Health Nursing Care

57

3.86

19.655

Supervisory Skills

42

3.73

14.894

Leadership Skills

36

3.68

12.721

Case Manager

18

3.50

6.475