Preventive Care in Nursing and Midwifery Journal
Volume 15, Issue 3 (10-2025)
PCNM 2025, 15(3): 0-0 |
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Ethics code: IR.SSU.REC.1398.070.
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HOSSEINI S E, setavand M, javadi M. Explaining the Competencies Required for Intensive Care Unit Nurses: A Delphi Study. PCNM 2025; 15 (3)
URL: http://nmcjournal.zums.ac.ir/article-1-972-en.html
URL: http://nmcjournal.zums.ac.ir/article-1-972-en.html
Assistant professor, Department of Medical- Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , esmat.hosseini_110@yahoo.com
Abstract: (21 Views)
Background: Rapid changes in the healthcare system necessitate the provision of high-quality and safe nursing care, a long-standing goal in nursing that depends on maintaining competence throughout the process.
Objectives: This study aimed to determine the clinical competencies of nurses in the intensive care unit.
Methods: This study, conducted in three rounds using the Delphi method, selected 32 participants for participation through purposive sampling. In the first round, items were rated for necessity and relevance using 3- and 4-point Likert scales, respectively. Items that achieved ≥75% agreement, a mean score of ≥2.25 for necessity, and ≥3.0 for relevance were retained. In the second round, participants rated the importance of each item on a 4-point scale, and items with a mean score of ≥3.0 were included in the third round. In the final round, agreement was assessed on a two-way scale (agree = 1, disagree = 0), and items with a mean agreement score ≥0.75 (with 75% consensus) were considered final.
Results: A three-round Delphi study was conducted with 30 expert panelists (retention rate: 93.75%). Through systematic consensus-building, 185 competency items across 17 distinct domains were validated. The final framework encompasses critical areas such as personality traits, evidence-based care, patient safety, professionalism, communication, critical thinking, professional development, cultural/spiritual competence, and documentation. These domains demonstrated robust consensus, with mean relevance and importance scores ≥3.9 and agreement levels ≥97%. The competency framework achieved a high level of expert endorsement, with no items eliminated in the final round, confirming its comprehensiveness and contextual relevance for ICU nursing practice.
Conclusion: Assessing the clinical competence of nurses can help improve the quality of care. It is suggested that health policymakers consider these competencies as minimum standards for nurses.
Objectives: This study aimed to determine the clinical competencies of nurses in the intensive care unit.
Methods: This study, conducted in three rounds using the Delphi method, selected 32 participants for participation through purposive sampling. In the first round, items were rated for necessity and relevance using 3- and 4-point Likert scales, respectively. Items that achieved ≥75% agreement, a mean score of ≥2.25 for necessity, and ≥3.0 for relevance were retained. In the second round, participants rated the importance of each item on a 4-point scale, and items with a mean score of ≥3.0 were included in the third round. In the final round, agreement was assessed on a two-way scale (agree = 1, disagree = 0), and items with a mean agreement score ≥0.75 (with 75% consensus) were considered final.
Results: A three-round Delphi study was conducted with 30 expert panelists (retention rate: 93.75%). Through systematic consensus-building, 185 competency items across 17 distinct domains were validated. The final framework encompasses critical areas such as personality traits, evidence-based care, patient safety, professionalism, communication, critical thinking, professional development, cultural/spiritual competence, and documentation. These domains demonstrated robust consensus, with mean relevance and importance scores ≥3.9 and agreement levels ≥97%. The competency framework achieved a high level of expert endorsement, with no items eliminated in the final round, confirming its comprehensiveness and contextual relevance for ICU nursing practice.
Conclusion: Assessing the clinical competence of nurses can help improve the quality of care. It is suggested that health policymakers consider these competencies as minimum standards for nurses.
Type of Study: Orginal research |
Subject:
Nursing
Received: 2025/07/8 | Accepted: 2025/10/2 | Published: 2025/10/2
Received: 2025/07/8 | Accepted: 2025/10/2 | Published: 2025/10/2
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