E-ISSN 1658-8223 | ISSN 1658-645X
 

Original Article 


Competencies of Critical Care Nurses in Najran, Saudi Arabia: A Self-Assessment and Implications for Practice

Mugahed Ali Al-khader, Fatma Abdelaziz Mohammed, Amna Mohammed Idris, Hamda Ahmed Mohamed Eldesoky, Sadeq Abdo Alwsaby, Ohoud Iead Al Abo Nassir, Saud Taleb Al-hamami, Faroq Alshameri, Mohammed Musaed Aljabri.


Abstract
Background and aim:
Critical care nursing competency is essential for delivering safe and effective care to critically ill patients. Despite global attention to critical care nurse (CCN) competencies, region-specific assessments in Saudi Arabia, particularly in Najran, remain limited. This study aimed to assess the self-reported competency levels of CCNs in Najran City Hospitals and examine the relationship between their competencies and sociodemographic characteristics.
Methods:
A cross-sectional survey of 158 CCNs across four Najran hospitals was conducted using a convenience sampling approach. Sample size was determined using the Raosoft online sample calculator; a sample size of 179 CCNs was required from a population of 334 (50% response rate, 95% power, 5% margin of error). The survey was completed by 158 nurses, with a response rate of 88.26%. Data were collected using the validated Intensive and Critical Care Nursing Competence Scale-1 (ICCN-CS-1), which evaluates four domains: knowledge, skills, attitude/values, and experience. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 23, with descriptive statistics summarizing participant characteristics and chi-square tests employed to examine associations between categorical variables.
Results:
More than half of the nurses (55.7%) demonstrated excellent overall competency, with the highest scores in knowledge (63.3%), experience (59.5%), and attitude (58.9%) domains. The skills domain showed the lowest percentage of excellence (48.1%). Competency level was significantly associated with marital status (p = 0.005) and attendance at patient safety training (p = 0.008), whereas age and experience were not significantly associated with both.
Conclusion:
The results indicated that the CCNs who participated in the study have a high overall competency, knowledge-based gaps remain. Although these gaps do not appear to critically affect current clinical practice or demand immediate intervention, they highlight opportunities for improvement. These findings emphasize the need for continuous theoretical reinforcement, structured clinical mentoring, and simulation-based training to ensure sustained excellence in critical care.

Key words: Critical care nursing, competency, self-assessment, patient safety, Saudi Arabia


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Al-khader MA, Mohammed FA, Idris AM, Eldesoky HAM, Alwsaby SA, Nassir OIAA, Al-hamami ST, Alshameri F, Aljabri MM. Competencies of Critical Care Nurses in Najran, Saudi Arabia: A Self-Assessment and Implications for Practice. Majmaah J Heal Sci. 2026; 14(3): 204-221. doi:10.5455/mjhs.2026.03.016


Web Style

Al-khader MA, Mohammed FA, Idris AM, Eldesoky HAM, Alwsaby SA, Nassir OIAA, Al-hamami ST, Alshameri F, Aljabri MM. Competencies of Critical Care Nurses in Najran, Saudi Arabia: A Self-Assessment and Implications for Practice. https://www.mjhs-mu.org/?mno=271879 [Access: July 01, 2026]. doi:10.5455/mjhs.2026.03.016


AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Al-khader MA, Mohammed FA, Idris AM, Eldesoky HAM, Alwsaby SA, Nassir OIAA, Al-hamami ST, Alshameri F, Aljabri MM. Competencies of Critical Care Nurses in Najran, Saudi Arabia: A Self-Assessment and Implications for Practice. Majmaah J Heal Sci. 2026; 14(3): 204-221. doi:10.5455/mjhs.2026.03.016



Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Al-khader MA, Mohammed FA, Idris AM, Eldesoky HAM, Alwsaby SA, Nassir OIAA, Al-hamami ST, Alshameri F, Aljabri MM. Competencies of Critical Care Nurses in Najran, Saudi Arabia: A Self-Assessment and Implications for Practice. Majmaah J Heal Sci. (2026), [cited July 01, 2026]; 14(3): 204-221. doi:10.5455/mjhs.2026.03.016



Harvard Style

Al-khader, M. A., Mohammed, . F. A., Idris, . A. M., Eldesoky, . H. A. M., Alwsaby, . S. A., Nassir, . O. I. A. A., Al-hamami, . S. T., Alshameri, . F. & Aljabri, . M. M. (2026) Competencies of Critical Care Nurses in Najran, Saudi Arabia: A Self-Assessment and Implications for Practice. Majmaah J Heal Sci, 14 (3), 204-221. doi:10.5455/mjhs.2026.03.016



Turabian Style

Al-khader, Mugahed Ali, Fatma Abdelaziz Mohammed, Amna Mohammed Idris, Hamda Ahmed Mohamed Eldesoky, Sadeq Abdo Alwsaby, Ohoud Iead Al Abo Nassir, Saud Taleb Al-hamami, Faroq Alshameri, and Mohammed Musaed Aljabri. 2026. Competencies of Critical Care Nurses in Najran, Saudi Arabia: A Self-Assessment and Implications for Practice. Majmaah Journal of Health Sciences, 14 (3), 204-221. doi:10.5455/mjhs.2026.03.016



Chicago Style

Al-khader, Mugahed Ali, Fatma Abdelaziz Mohammed, Amna Mohammed Idris, Hamda Ahmed Mohamed Eldesoky, Sadeq Abdo Alwsaby, Ohoud Iead Al Abo Nassir, Saud Taleb Al-hamami, Faroq Alshameri, and Mohammed Musaed Aljabri. "Competencies of Critical Care Nurses in Najran, Saudi Arabia: A Self-Assessment and Implications for Practice." Majmaah Journal of Health Sciences 14 (2026), 204-221. doi:10.5455/mjhs.2026.03.016



MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Al-khader, Mugahed Ali, Fatma Abdelaziz Mohammed, Amna Mohammed Idris, Hamda Ahmed Mohamed Eldesoky, Sadeq Abdo Alwsaby, Ohoud Iead Al Abo Nassir, Saud Taleb Al-hamami, Faroq Alshameri, and Mohammed Musaed Aljabri. "Competencies of Critical Care Nurses in Najran, Saudi Arabia: A Self-Assessment and Implications for Practice." Majmaah Journal of Health Sciences 14.3 (2026), 204-221. Print. doi:10.5455/mjhs.2026.03.016



APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Al-khader, M. A., Mohammed, . F. A., Idris, . A. M., Eldesoky, . H. A. M., Alwsaby, . S. A., Nassir, . O. I. A. A., Al-hamami, . S. T., Alshameri, . F. & Aljabri, . M. M. (2026) Competencies of Critical Care Nurses in Najran, Saudi Arabia: A Self-Assessment and Implications for Practice. Majmaah Journal of Health Sciences, 14 (3), 204-221. doi:10.5455/mjhs.2026.03.016





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