The training needs of Korean intensive care unit nurses regarding delirium

The aim of this study was to investigate high-priority training needs by analysing the perceived importance and self-reported performance of nurses' delirium care competency.

A cross-sectional survey with a convenience sample of 255 Korean intensive care units nurses.

Intensive care units in the Republic of Korea.

Intensive care unit nurses' delirium care competency.

Exploratory factor analysis of the Nurse Delirium Care Competency Scale showed a six-factor structure, which accounted for 67.51% of the variance in nurses' delirium care competency: management algorithm, prevention, communication, nursing management, assessment, and collaboration. The self-reported performance scores of all six factors were significantly lower than their perceived importance scores. The delirium assessment factor was identified as a high training priority on the importance-performance matrix for new graduate nurses.

Training programmes should be developed considering the six delirium care competency factors identified in this study. Further, nurse educators must adopt active educational modalities such as case-based small group learning and simulation-based learning to improve nurse competency in recognising and managing delirium.