Competency-based model for the Nurse Manager at Operational Level Section: Originals How to quote González García A, Pinto Carral A, Pérez González S, Marqués-Sánchez P. Modelo de competencias para la gestora enfermera del nivel operativo. Metas Enferm mar 2022; 25(2):49-55. Doi: https://doi.org/10.35667/MetasEnf.2022.25.1003081885 AuthorsAlberto González García1, Arrate Pinto Carral2, Silvia Pérez González3, Pilar Marqués Sánchez4 Position 1Doctor en Biomedicina y Ciencias de la Salud. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad de León (España)2Doctora (Universidad de León). Grupo SALBIS. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad de León (España)3Doctoranda (Universidad de León). Enfermera. Complejo Asistencial Universitario de León (CAULE). León (España)4Doctora en Administración y Dirección de Empresas. Grupo SALBIS. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad de León (España) Contact address Arrate Pinto Carral. C/ El Hayedo, 1. 24007 León (España) Contact email: agong@unileon.es Abstract Objective: to evaluate the structural validity of the competency model for the Nurse Manager at Operational Level in the Spanish Health System.Method: the research consisted in a principal component analysis (PCA) to determine the validity of the construct and reduce the dimensionality of the data set. Thurstone’s theory was followed for this purpose in three stages. Data adequacy was conducted through the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Test.Results: the 51 skills included in the Competency model for the Nurse Manager at Operational Level were submitted to the principal component analysis. Results showed the structural validity of the model proposed by saturation of the principal components and of each of the dimensions included: Management (? Cronbach > 0.631), Communication and Technology (? Cronbach > 0-6), Leadership and Work Teams (? Cronbach > 0.876), Knowledge of the Health System (? Cronbach > 0.749), Nursing Knowledge (? Cronbach > 0.808), Personality (? Cronbach > 0.809).Conclusions: the analysis of the principal components of the competency model for the Nurse Manager at Operational Level showed the validity of the model construct. Decision-making appeared as a critical factor, due to its high factor loading. The analysis of the explained variance led to the conclusion that the leadership, essence, quality and personal projection factors must be present in the profile of the Nurse Manager at Operational Level. It can be used by Nurse managers in order to plan their professional career. Healthcare organizations could develop selection processes for the Nurse Managers at Operational Level in Spain. Keywords: competency model; skills; operational level; Nurse Manager; supervisor; Head of the Nursing Unit; Nursing Coordinator; Nursing Manager Versión en Español Título: Modelo de competencias para la gestora enfermera de nivel operativo