Competence-based human resource management to improve managerial competence of first-line nurse managers: A scale development

Aim This study aimed to develop and psychometrically test a competence-based human resource management scale to improve managerial competence of first-line nurse managers in public hospitals. Background To ensure the high competence of the first-line nurse managers, the competence-based human resource management should be evaluated using the best-fit instrument. However, no instrument has been identified in the hospital setting. Methods This methodological study consists of three main steps: (1) generating scale items based on literature review and expert interviews, (2) pilot testing of face and content validity and (3) evaluating psychometric properties with 300 first-line nurse managers from 16 public hospitals in Indonesia selected using a multistage sampling. Data were collected from May to December 2017. Principal component analysis and Cronbach's alpha were used for construct validity and internal consistency reliability. Results The final scale consists of 30 items in five dimensions, which explained 65.48% of the total variance. The dimensions include 'training and evaluation, career planning and development, rewards scheme, recruitment and selection, and appraisal system'. Cronbach's alpha for the scale was .89, with a range of .85 to .88. Conclusion The competence-based human resource management scale is reliable and valid to use in public hospital settings. Summary statement What is already known about this topic? The concept of competence-based human resource management has been applied worldwide in every organization, and it is applicable to use for developing managerial competence of first-line nurse managers. Therefore, the effectiveness of this management system should be assessed via a valid and reliable instrument. Several instruments to measure competence-based human resource management have been developed, but no instrument has been identified to measure competence-based human resource management specifically in hospital settings. What this paper adds? This study developed a scale designed to measure competence-based human resource management to support improvement of first-line nurse managers' managerial competence in public hospitals. The scale demonstrated sound psychometric properties with acceptable internal consistency reliability, content validity and construct validity. The scale consists of 30 items in five dimensions: training and evaluation, career planning and development, rewards scheme, recruitment and selection, and appraisal system. The implications of this paper: This study expands the basic knowledge of competence-based human resource management as a concept with five dimensions that can be used in nursing organizations, and it can be used in quality assurance systems in public hospitals settings in Indonesia. The scale can be used as a feedback for first-line nurse managers to see the impact of competence-based human resource management framework on their competence and helps to identify which dimension of human resource management needs further improvement. With further research, the scale may be of use in other countries and settings.