First-Line Nurse Managers (FLNMs) play a key role in providing high quality and safe
healthcare. Managerial competencies of FLNMs are crucial in health care, particularly in hospital
settings. Objective: Develop an instrument to assess the perceived job competencies of FLNMs related
to Staff Nurses' Performance and Retention. Settings: The study was conducted in the four largest
hospitals at El-Behira Governorate. Subjects: The study subjects were composed of two groups:
Qualitative sample used to collect the qualitative data which make up the first version of the
instrument, and a Quantitative sample composed of 294 FLNMs in the study settings in using the
second version of the instrument. Tools: First tool is semi-structured interview developed by the
researcher used to collect the qualitative data and second tool developed through three stages.
Results: The developed instrument is valid and reliable to measure the perceived job competencies of
FLNMs related to staff nurses' performance and retention in the hospital settings. Conclusion: The
current study concluded that the FLNMs competencies related to Staff Nurses Performance and
Retention can be comprehensively measured, including various domains, dimensions and subdimensions.
Recommendations: Using the current study's FLNMs' competencies instrument as a valid
and reliable assessment tool to determine FLNMs' competencies in order to improve the staff nurses'
performance and retention.