Developing a competency framework for operating room nurse specialist training instructors: a Delphi study

Abstract

Objective To develop a competency evaluation framework for OR nurse specialist training instructors. Methods Guided by the Iceberg Model and the Onion Model of competency, a preliminary indicator framework was developed through a literature review, behavioral event interviews, and expert group discussions. A two-round Delphi survey involving 31 operating room nursing experts was conducted to refine the indicators. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to determine the weights of the final indicators. Expert authority, participation rate, and the degree of consensus were assessed. Results A competency evaluation framework consisting of five first-level indicators and 36second-level indicators was established. The expert authority coefficients in the two rounds were 0.829 and 0.830, respectively. Kendall’s W coordination coefficients were 0.157 and 0.112 (both P < 0.05). The weights of the first-level indicators, ranked from highest to lowest, were Professional Knowlege (41.10%), Research Capability (20.68%), Teaching Ability (18.33%), Professionalism (13.79%), and Personality Traits (6.10%). Conclusion The resulting framework demonstrates sound validity and reliability. It provides a structured basis for the selection, training, and assessment of OR nurse specialist instructors, which may support efforts to improve specialist nursing education quality.