Expert Consensus on Key Attributes of Nurses in Resuscitation Teams: Findings From a Delphi Study

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Nursing
• Resuscitation Science
• Healthcare Team Dynamics

Background:

• In-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) necessitates coordinated interdisciplinary responses.
• Nurses are crucial first responders in IHCA events, but their effective attributes are not well-defined.
• This study addresses the gap in understanding nursing competencies within resuscitation teams.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish expert consensus on essential nursing attributes for effective participation in IHCA teams.
• To define key competencies and personal qualities for nurses in resuscitation settings.

Main Methods:

• A two-round Delphi study involving resuscitation and critical care experts.
• Qualitative thematic analysis of interviews followed by quantitative rating of attributes using a Likert scale.
• Consensus defined by mean score > 8 and coefficient of variation < 20%.

Main Results:

• Thirty-nine nursing attributes were identified across seven domains: education, experience, physical condition, psychological resilience, technical skills, and non-technical skills.
• Thirty-five attributes achieved consensus, with highest agreement on Advanced Life Support (ALS) certification, stress resilience, closed-loop communication, adaptability, and teamwork.
• Non-technical skills (M=9.75) and technical skills (M=9.61) domains showed the strongest consensus.

Conclusions:

• An evidence-informed framework highlights the importance of both technical expertise and non-technical skills for nurses in resuscitation.
• Key attributes include closed-loop communication, composure, and collaboration.
• The framework aids in defining nursing roles, developing competencies, and improving IHCA management.