Competence Assessment Instruments and Methods in Wound Care

Student and professional nurses' wound care competence can be assessed using competence assessment instruments or other competence assessment methods. The instruments assessing wound care competence can assess either one’s objective or subjective (self-assessed) competence. The objective competence assessment instruments focus on knowledge and skill components of competence, while the subjective competence assessment instruments can cover all elements of competence, including attitudes. In the recent literature, most of the competence assessment methods developed for wound care are knowledge tests, most aimed at assessing competence in the care and prevention of pressure ulcers. In addition, only a few of the competence assessment instruments developed have been validated and comprehensively psychometrically tested. As wound care requires broad competence from nursing professionals, the instruments and other assessment methods that allow for a holistic assessment of competence, such as combinations of knowledge and skills, should be developed and implemented.