Nurse's Experience in Applying the First Clinical Competencies in Aceh Government General Hospital

Nurses are required to provide the health services following the competence and clinical authority that have been determined according to nursing career paths. Some nurses are still taking actions outside of their authority which can harm the quality of care and patient safety. This study aims to explore nurse?s experience in applying the first clinical competence based on a nursing career path. This study was the qualitative method with nine surgical ward nurses as participants were selected with the purposive sampling technique. The data was obtained from interviews, then analyzed using Colaizzi?s steps method. The study found three themes related to nurses? experiences: 1) The nurse?s perception of clinical authority, 2) Dilemma, and 3) Reasons for violating authority. This study suggests training for nurses and nursing committees, a review of credential implementation, and monitoring the application of nurse competence according to the hospital career path.