research plan for developing trauma core competencies for nurses in thailand the aim of this research plan was identification and development of core competencies for emergency trauma nurses in thailand the research plan was undertaken in three phases phase i a national survey of the critical dimensions of care phase ii development of a 64 item tool and phase iii efficiency study with emergency nurses representing level1 regional community and rural facilities six dimensions of competency were identified cooperation decisionmaking leadership problemsolving teamwork and technical knowledge with a content validity index cvi of 100 and internal consistency cronbachs alpha of 098 n485 rns in 29 hospitals analysis of the first year pilot study data using a 5 point likert scale n285 rns in 16 hospitals nurses rated themselves as 418 sd069 and their peers at 400 sd068 head nurse evaluations averaged 398 sd055 anova demonstrated no statistical significance p009 between groups the results of the preliminary studies demonstrated appropriateness of the core competency items but refinement is required prior to national distribution