Posted: February 27th, 2023
Competency of the Nursing Staff in Dementia Care
Competency of the Nursing Staff in Dementia Care
Dementia is a progressive and irreversible condition that affects the cognitive, emotional, social and physical abilities of people who have it. It is estimated that there are 50 million people living with dementia worldwide, and this number is expected to rise to 152 million by 2050 (World Health Organization, 2020). Dementia care is a complex and challenging task that requires specialized knowledge and skills from the nursing staff who provide it. This blog post will discuss the competency of the nursing staff in dementia care, the factors that influence it, and the strategies to enhance it.
What is competency in dementia care?
Competency in dementia care can be defined as the ability to perform well in providing high quality and compassionate care and support for people with dementia and their families. It involves having the knowledge, skills and empathy to work with individuals with dementia and their families to meet their needs, preferences and goals. Competency in dementia care also means being able to adapt to the changing and diverse needs of people with dementia as their condition progresses, and being able to cope with the emotional and physical demands of the work (Schepers et al., 2012).
Competency in dementia care can be divided into four domains, according to the Sense of Competence in Dementia Care Staff Scale (SCIDS) developed by Schepers et al. (2012). These domains are:
– Professionalism: This domain refers to the knowledge and skills related to the clinical aspects of dementia care, such as assessment, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and management of symptoms and complications. It also involves having a person-centered approach to dementia care, which respects the individuality, dignity, rights and choices of people with dementia.
– Building Relationships: This domain refers to the ability to establish and maintain positive and trusting relationships with people with dementia, their families and other professionals involved in their care. It involves having effective communication skills, empathy, respect, patience and cultural sensitivity.
– Care Challenges: This domain refers to the ability to deal with the difficult and complex situations that may arise in dementia care, such as behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), ethical dilemmas, end-of-life issues, abuse and neglect. It involves having problem-solving skills, resilience, coping strategies and support networks.
– Sustaining Personhood: This domain refers to the ability to recognize and preserve the identity, personality, history, values and preferences of people with dementia. It involves having creative skills, engaging in meaningful activities, providing stimulation and enhancing quality of life.
Why is competency in dementia care important?
Competency in dementia care is important for several reasons. First, it can improve the outcomes and experiences of people with dementia and their families. Research has shown that competent nursing staff can provide better quality of care, reduce BPSD, improve mood, cognition and function, increase satisfaction and reduce stress for people with dementia and their families (Chenoweth et al., 2009; Spector et al., 2013; Vernooij-Dassen et al., 2011). Second, it can benefit the nursing staff themselves. Research has shown that competent nursing staff can have higher job satisfaction, lower burnout, lower turnover intention, higher self-efficacy and higher sense of competence (Schepers et al., 2012; Teeri et al., 2006; van der Doef et al., 2011). Third, it can contribute to the development of dementia care as a profession. Research has shown that competent nursing staff can have more positive attitudes towards dementia care, more confidence in their role, more motivation for learning and more involvement in research and innovation (Brooker et al., 2018; Edvardsson et al., 2014; McCormack et al., 2015).
What are the factors that influence competency in dementia care?
Competency in dementia care is influenced by various factors at different levels. These factors can be categorized into individual factors, organizational factors and environmental factors (McCormack et al., 2015).
Individual factors are those related to the personal characteristics of the nursing staff, such as their education, training,
experience, knowledge, skills, attitudes, beliefs, values, motivation,
personality and coping styles. These factors can affect how they perceive
and perform their role in dementia care.
Organizational factors are those related to the characteristics of
the workplace where the nursing staff provide dementia care,
such as its culture,
climate,
leadership,
management,
policies,
procedures,
resources,
support,
supervision,
teamwork
and feedback.
These factors can affect how they are enabled
and empowered
to provide high quality
and compassionate
dementia care.
Environmental factors are those related to the characteristics of
the external context where the nursing staff provide dementia care,
such as its legislation,
regulation,
standards,
guidelines,
accreditation,
funding,
research
and innovation.
These factors can affect how they are influenced
and inspired
to provide evidence-based
and innovative
dementia care.
How can competency in dementia care be enhanced?
Competency in dementia care can be enhanced by addressing the factors that influence it at different levels. Some of the strategies that can be used are:
– Providing education and training for the nursing staff on the clinical and non-clinical aspects of dementia care, such as the causes, symptoms, stages, treatments, interventions, communication, ethics and end-of-life care of people with dementia. Education and training can be delivered through various methods, such as formal courses, workshops, seminars, webinars, e-learning, mentoring, coaching and peer learning (Brooker et al., 2018; Edvardsson et al., 2014).
– Providing support and supervision for the nursing staff to help them cope with the emotional and physical demands of dementia care, such as stress, burnout, compassion fatigue, grief and loss. Support and supervision can be provided through various methods, such as counseling, debriefing, reflection, peer support, employee assistance programs and self-care strategies (McCormack et al., 2015; Schepers et al., 2012).
– Providing feedback and recognition for the nursing staff to help them improve their performance and satisfaction in dementia care, such as quality indicators, outcome measures, audits, appraisals, awards and incentives. Feedback and recognition can be provided through various methods, such as formal and informal feedback, positive and constructive feedback, individual and group feedback and verbal and written feedback (McCormack et al., 2015; van der Doef et al., 2011).
– Providing resources and facilities for the nursing staff to help them provide optimal dementia care, such as adequate staffing, equipment, supplies, space, time and budget. Resources and facilities can be provided through various methods, such as planning, allocation, distribution, utilization and evaluation (Chenoweth et al., 2009; Vernooij-Dassen et al., 2011).
– Providing leadership and management for the nursing staff to help them provide effective and efficient dementia care, such as vision, mission, goals, objectives, strategies, policies, procedures and standards. Leadership and management can be provided through various methods,
such as direction,
guidance,
coordination,
communication,
collaboration,
empowerment
and accountability
(Brooker et al., 2018; Edvardsson et al., 2014).
Conclusion
Competency of the nursing staff in dementia care is a vital component of providing high quality and compassionate care and support for people with dementia and their families. It involves having the knowledge,
skills
and empathy
to work with individuals with dementia
and their families
to meet their needs,
preferences
and goals.
Competency in dementia care is influenced by various factors at different levels,
such as individual,
organizational
and environmental factors.
Competency in dementia care can be enhanced by addressing these factors at different levels,
such as providing education,
training,
support,
supervision,
feedback,
recognition,
resources,
facilities,
leadership
and management
for the nursing staff.
By enhancing competency in dementia care,
the nursing staff can improve the outcomes
and experiences
of people with dementia
and their families,
benefit themselves
and contribute to the development of dementia care as a profession.
Bibliography
Brooker D et al. (2018) The impact of dementia friendly ward environments on the care of patients with dementia admitted to hospital: a mixed method study protocol. BMJ Open 8(1): e019042.
Chenoweth L et al. (2009) Caring for Aged Dementia Care Resident Study (CADRES) of person-centred care, dementia-care mapping, and usual care in dementia: a cluster-randomised trial. Lancet Neurology 8(4): 317–325.
Edvardsson D et al. (2014) Person-centred climate questionnaire – patient version: psychometric properties when used in aged care settings. Journal of Nursing Management 22(6): 695–703.
McCormack B et al. (2015) Person-centred practice in nursing and health care: theory and practice. John Wiley & Sons.
Schepers AK et al. (2012) Sense of competence in dementia care staff (SCIDS) scale: development, reliability, and validity. International Psychogeriatrics 24(7): 1153–1162.
Spector A et al. (2013) Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for anxiety in people with dementia: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials 14(1): 1–11.
Teeri S et al. (2006) Effects of regular in-service education on the work strain of nursing staff in elderly long-term institutional settings: a quasi-experimental study. Journal of Clinical Nursing