comparison of clinical competency in nurses working in covid-19 and non-covid-19 departments of university hospitals in zanjan city in 2020

Background: the importance of clinical competency in nurses indicates the necessity of evaluating this criterion for nurses working in covid-19 and non-covid-19 departments. objectives: comparison of clinical competency in nurses working in covid-19 and non-covid-19 departments of university hospitals in zanjan city in 2020. methods: following a convenient sampling method, this cross-sectional study recruited 220 registered nurses working at hospitals affiliated to the zanjan university of medical sciences with at least six months of work experience. data were collected using a demographic information form and competency inventory for registered nurses (cirn). mann whitney u test was used to compare study groups. results: there was a significant difference between nurses working in covid-19 and non-covid-19 departments concerning clinical competency, so that those in covid-19 departments were more competent (p-value=0.001). conclusion: the observed difference requires more attention and particular interventions, including promoting teamwork, engaging staff in decision-making processes, job supports, reducing conflicts and role ambiguities, and increasing control over employment-related events.