Continuing Professional Development on the Core Competence of Nurses in a Department of Health Retained Hospital

Abstract

Continuous professional development (CPD) is essential in ensuring that nurses maintain the competencies required to deliver safe, effective, and evidence-based patient care in rapidly evolving healthcare environments. Despite its recognized importance, limited local evidence exists on how CPD relates to nurses' core competencies in Department of Health (DOH)-retained hospitals. This study determined the relationship between Continuing Professional Development and the core competencies of nurses in a DOH-retained hospital. A quantitative descriptive-correlational research design was employed involving 51 nurses selected through complete enumeration. Data were collected using the Questionnaire on Professional Development of Nurses (Q-PDN) by Brekelmans et al. (2014) and the Core Competency Scale based on the International Council of Nurses framework. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, Cramer's V, and Pearson Product-Moment Correlation were used to analyze the data. Findings revealed that nurses demonstrated very high motivation, highly favorable conditions, high perceived importance, and high engagement in continuing professional development activities. The respondents likewise exhibited very high core competence across all competency domains. No significant relationship was found between nurses' profile and either continuing professional development or core competence. However, a significant positive relationship was identified between continuing professional development and core competence, indicating that greater engagement in professional development was associated with higher competency levels. The study concludes that strengthening structured continuing professional development programs is essential for sustaining and enhancing nurses' professional competence. A Professional Development Plan was proposed to support competency enhancement and lifelong learning among nurses.