Clinical practice competencies for standard critical care nursing: Consensus statement based on a systematic review and Delphi survey

Clinical practice competencies in standard critical care nursing (SCCN) are necessary to improve the quality of care and patient outcomes. Competency enables definition and provides a framework for the evaluation of actual knowledge, skills, and abilities. However, a clear development process and scientifically validated competencies have not yet been developed in Japan. Thus, this study aimed to develop a consensus-based set of SCCN competencies to cover a framework for critical care nursing education, training, and evaluation. A consensus-based set of SCCN competencies was developed in four stages: (1) development of an initial set of SCCN competencies derived from a systematic review; (2) focus group interviews via video conference to supplement and content expert validation based on initial competencies made from a systematic review; (3) a three-round web-based Delphi survey of health professionals to prioritize and gain consensus on the most essential SCCN competencies; and (4) external validation, feedback, and endorsement from critical care experts. A systematic review of 23 studies and reports identified 685 unique competencies. Of the 239 participants representing a range of health professionals (physicians, nurses, and physical therapists) who registered, 218 (91.2% of registered professionals), 209 (98.9% of round 1 participants), and 201 (96.2% of round two participants) participants responded in round one, round two, and round three of the Delphi survey, respectively. The withdrawal rates between enrollment and each round were less than 10%. After three rounds of the Delphi survey and external validation by experts, the final set of competencies was classified into 6 domains, 26 subdomains, 99 elements, and 525 performance indicators. In summary, a consensus-based, contemporary set of SCCN competencies was identified to cover a framework for critical care nursing education, training, and evaluation. Trial registration None