Determination of nursing procedures and competencies in emergency departments: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the nursing procedures carried out by emergency department nurses. This descriptive study was carried out between April and September 2015 in the emergency departments of two state hospitals and one university hospital in Turkey. The study population comprised 139 emergency nurses working for at least 1 year in the emergency department of one of the three hospitals. Data were gathered by using the Emergency Nursing Procedures Questionnaire, which is composed of three sections to reveal nursing procedures performed in emergency departments. The procedures most frequently performed by the participants were administration of pain medication and assessment of patient responses (3.97 +/- .18). Assessment of the patient's nutritional status (1.79 +/- 1.16) was among the least frequently performed nursing procedures. Emergency nurses carried out nursing care procedures less frequently and took part most frequently in procedures related to medical diagnosis and treatment. According to results of this study, these procedures and competencies will highlight what knowledge and skills emergency nurses need. They will also guide in the creation of in-service training programs and illuminate competencies that need improvement.