Analysis of Influencing Factors of Junior ICU Nurses' Recognition and Response Abilities to Clinical Deterioration: A...

To evaluate the current status and explore influencing factors of junior intensive care unit (ICU) nurses' recognition and response capabilities to clinical deterioration.

This cross-sectional study followed the STROBE statement.

From November 2024 to January 2025, 260 junior ICU nurses from five tertiary hospitals in China were recruited. Data were collected using a validated 25-item questionnaire spanning six dimensions to assess their recognition and response abilities. SPSS was used for statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics, Kruskal-Wallis H/Mann-Whitney U tests, and multiple linear regression to examine differences under sociodemographic and occupational factors.

The total score for recognition and response abilities among 250 junior ICU nurses was 99 (95, 103), with an average item score of 3.96 ± 0.83. Dimension scores ranked from lowest to highest: emergency handling, evaluation, teamwork, disease information analysis, disease information acquisition, and clinical decision-making. Education level, work experience, and participation in disease observation training were identified as significant influencing factors.

Junior ICU nurses in China demonstrate relatively strong overall observation skills but insufficient clinical decision-making abilities. Nursing managers and educators should integrate these factors into training to enhance young nurses' capabilities in recognizing and responding to clinical deterioration, which is crucial for improving critical care outcomes.

Patients and the public were not directly involved in the design, implementation, or reporting of this study. However, the results of the study emphasize the importance of improving primary ICU nurses' clinical decision-making skills and emergency response skills, which may have an impact on patient care.