[Do nurses perform sonography in Germany? A survey]

Internationally, ultrasounds are carried out by various healthcare professionals and in particular by nurses. It is not yet known whether and in what context this takes place in Germany.

Are ultrasounds performed by nurses in daily nursing care in Germany? Secondary objectives were the context, frequency, qualifications and impact on the nursing care process and teamwork.

Quantitative survey using an online questionnaire with 28 closed and one open question, which was sent out in professional networks.

A total of 476 people took part, of whom 98.7% (n = 470) were evaluable. The primary respondents were nurses (80.9%, n = 359) who worked in hospitals (83.0%, n = 390) in the intensive care unit (37.2%, n = 175). A total of 13.2% (n = 62) stated that nurses use sonography in practice. It takes most frequently place for venipuncture or placement of an indwelling cannula (74.2%, n = 46), puncture of an arterial vessel (59.7%, n = 37) and determination of perfusion or peripheral blood sampling (45.2% each, n = 28). Ultrasounds are usually performed several times a week or month (36.4%, n = 12) and the qualification is primarily acquired in the patient's own institution (36.4%, n = 12). A total of 7.0% (n = 33) use ultrasound themselves, which improves work processes (63.6%, n = 21) and communication within the team (48.5%, n = 16) and also leads to greater recognition within the team (42.4%, n = 14).

In Germany, only a small proportion of ultrasounds of inpatients are performed by nurses, but the activity improves corresponding workflows, communication within the team and leads to greater recognition.