Enhancing comprehensive geriatric nursing competence: Insights into training status, demands, and willingness among clinical nurses—A multi-center study in China

This study aims to evaluate geriatric nursing competence (GNC), training status, demands and willingness of clinical nurses, and to identify the key factors that influence GNC. A cross-sectional multi-centre study was conducted, including 1024 clinical nurses. Results indicated an overall lower-to-moderate level of GNC, coupled with a low training rate (43.53 %) and a high demand for further training (87.44 %), 67.5 % of nurses expressed willingness to participate in geriatric nursing training, and 35.6 % were willing to engage in geriatric nursing practice. Multiple linear regression analysis identified several independent factors influencing GNC, including training status, willingness to participate in geriatric nursing training and engage in geriatric nursing practice, years of experience in geriatric nursing practice, nursing job satisfaction, and department (i.e., Geriatrics, Internal Medicine, and Surgery). The study underscores the complex interplay of factors shaping GNC among clinical nurses, highlighting significant areas for targeted improvements in geriatric care training.