Continuing education in the development of competences in nurses

Abstract

This study aimed at characterizing the potential of continuing education to develop technical, relational/communicational, and ethical/political competences in nurses. This is a qualitative study undertaken with 12 nurses. Data collection was performed through documental analysis, interviews, and observation. Data were analysed on the basis of pre-determined categories: technical, communicational/relational, and ethical/political competences. Our results show that continuing education significantly contributes to the development of professional competences and indicate a predominance of the technical dimension as a way of ensuring security and professional recognition. However, relational/communicational and ethical/political competences are consolidating. They contribute to the interpersonal relationships and to the way of organizing work. Continuing educational processes, which include multiple dimensions of competences, potentiate the process, favoring integration among professionals in a changing world.