Clinical Competence of Neuroscience Nurses in Inpatient Wards and Intensive Care Units: A Mixed-Methods Systematic...

Neuroscience nurses need clinical competence (CC) when taking care of neuropatients. In this study the selected nursing context is inpatient wards and intensive care units (ICU) in university hospitals and tertiary referral centers where neuroscience patients are treated 24/7, patients' conditions can change rapidly, and nurses execute clinical interventions continually for adult patients. The aim was to describe and synthesize the available information on the types of CC needed in neuroscience nursing (NSN) and to describe how the competencies are or should be ensured.

A mixed-method systematic review of literature from 2014 to 2024. Descriptive qualitative and quantitative studies were included in a convergent integrated approach. Qualitative synthesis was conducted through thematic inductive analysis of the combined data.

Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria. CC in NSN in inpatient wards and ICUs was categorized into four main categories: neurospecific interventions, core nursing interventions, psychosocial interventions, and ensuring the quality and safety of patient care. Regarding how CC is ensured in clinical practice, the categories were postgraduate education, training sessions and feedback, extensive work experience and belonging to a neuroscience work community, and evidence-based materials and protocols. In terms of recommendations for ensuring CC, the categories identified were education and training in varying facilities, increasing knowledge and theoretical basis, and local opinion leaders, and the use of standardized tools.

NSN requires specific and general CC in executing nursing interventions in hospital inpatients wards and ICUs. CC in NSN is ensured through various methods, and it will remain important to ensure and assess nurses' competence to deliver high-quality and safe nursing care. This review emphasized the need to evaluate the CC of NSN in clinical practice.