TY - JOUR
T1 - Nurses' Competence Caring for Hospitalized Patients with Ventricular Assist Devices
AU - Casida, Jesus M.
AU - Abshire, Martha
AU - Widmar, Brian
AU - Combs, Pamela
AU - Freeman, Regi
AU - Baas, Linda
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors have disclosed that they have no significant relationships with, or financial interest in, any commercial companies pertaining to this article. This study was funded by Thoratec Corporation, Pleasanton, California. Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Jesus M. Casida, PhD, RN, APN-C, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, 525 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205 (jcasida@gmail.com).
Publisher Copyright:
© Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
PY - 2019/1/1
Y1 - 2019/1/1
N2 - Background Nursing care is an essential component of the delivery of high-quality patient care for advanced heart failure patients with ventricular assist devices (VADs). However, there is little information about how VAD patient care competence is formed, and there are no empirical data regarding the bed nurses' competence. Objectives The aim of this study was to explain how nurses perceived their competence related to VAD technology and how they utilized resources to equip themselves for the management of patients with implantable VADs. Methods An exploratory correlational research design was used in this study. Online surveys including demographic and work characteristics questionnaires as well as VAD Innovation in Nursing Appraisal Scale (knowledge, adoption, and communication) were completed by 237 critical-care unit and progressive care unit (PCU) nurses. Results Ventricular assist device knowledge, adoption, and communication of innovation mean scores were 3.9 ± 0.6, 3.9 ± 0.8, and 3.7 ± 0.9, respectively, indicating moderate/high levels. Critical-care unit nurses reported higher levels of knowledge (3.7 vs 3.6) and adoption (4.0 vs 3.8; P <.05) of innovation than did the PCU nurses, with no differences in communication. Compared with PCU nurses, critical-care unit nurses were more likely to seek VAD competence-related information using mass media. Innovation and adoption were associated with years of nursing experience and some hospital characteristics. Conclusion Critical-care unit nurses have higher self-reported VAD care competence than PCU nurses. Further research is needed to confirm the findings and link nurse competence with VAD patient outcomes.
AB - Background Nursing care is an essential component of the delivery of high-quality patient care for advanced heart failure patients with ventricular assist devices (VADs). However, there is little information about how VAD patient care competence is formed, and there are no empirical data regarding the bed nurses' competence. Objectives The aim of this study was to explain how nurses perceived their competence related to VAD technology and how they utilized resources to equip themselves for the management of patients with implantable VADs. Methods An exploratory correlational research design was used in this study. Online surveys including demographic and work characteristics questionnaires as well as VAD Innovation in Nursing Appraisal Scale (knowledge, adoption, and communication) were completed by 237 critical-care unit and progressive care unit (PCU) nurses. Results Ventricular assist device knowledge, adoption, and communication of innovation mean scores were 3.9 ± 0.6, 3.9 ± 0.8, and 3.7 ± 0.9, respectively, indicating moderate/high levels. Critical-care unit nurses reported higher levels of knowledge (3.7 vs 3.6) and adoption (4.0 vs 3.8; P <.05) of innovation than did the PCU nurses, with no differences in communication. Compared with PCU nurses, critical-care unit nurses were more likely to seek VAD competence-related information using mass media. Innovation and adoption were associated with years of nursing experience and some hospital characteristics. Conclusion Critical-care unit nurses have higher self-reported VAD care competence than PCU nurses. Further research is needed to confirm the findings and link nurse competence with VAD patient outcomes.
KW - Acute and critical-care nursing
KW - Mechanical circulatory support
KW - VAD nursing competence/competency
KW - VAD nursing education/training
KW - Ventricular assist device
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U2 - 10.1097/DCC.0000000000000332
DO - 10.1097/DCC.0000000000000332
M3 - Article
C2 - 30499791
AN - SCOPUS:85057541174
SN - 0730-4625
VL - 38
SP - 38
EP - 49
JO - Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing
JF - Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing
IS - 1
ER -