Patient safety and welfare are dependent on competent health care staff. Patient errors are reduced when staff is properly trained and competent. The steps are:
- Educate
- Train
- Assess competency
Competency is assessed by demonstrating the ability to apply the knowledge and skills that were obtained through education and training.
Maintaining competence is an ethical issue that needs to be embraced by all healthcare professionals.
Most healthcare professionals are required by law to be assessed periodically to ensure competence is maintained. However, as a healthcare professional, you should continually assess your competence and take steps to improve when you recognize deficiencies in your work performance. Doing so will minimize the risk of injuring a patient, yourself, a fellow employee, or the work environment. Self-assessment could be accomplished by reviewing data and reports issued to see if any corrections or additions are needed, or could be accomplished by periodically asking a colleague to watch as you perform a procedure to ensure correct and proper performance. Further education and training help to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to maintain competence.
A competency assessment is not the same as a performance appraisal, although the assessment outcomes should be considered in the organization's performance appraisal of each employee.
