[Nursing competencies in ECMO care: a scoping review]

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used in cases of refractory cardiac or pulmonary failure and places high demands on the treatment team, particularly on nursing staff, whose required competencies have scarcely been described in German-speaking countries.

The primary aim was to map the international evidence on nursing competencies in the care of adult ECMO patients. Secondary aims included identifying specialised nursing roles and drawing implications for the German-speaking countries.

The scoping review was conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the Joanna Briggs Institute and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses- Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). The literature search was carried out in MEDLINE, CINAHL and Scopus, as well as in reference lists. German- and English-language primary studies published between 2009 and May 2026 were included.

A total of n = 14 studies were included, comprising n = 7 qualitative (n = 6 [semi-structured] interview studies, n = 1 focus group interview) and n = 7 quantitative (n = 3 cross-sectional studies, n = 1 Delphi survey, n = 1 prospective cohort study, n = 1 prospective observational study, and n = 1 quasi-experimental study) studies. Based on the identified evidence, a multidimensional competency profile for ECMO nursing care can be described, including the necessary knowledge, practical skills, and professional attitudes. In addition, specialised nursing roles were identified. No studies meeting the inclusion criteria were identified for German-speaking countries.

A multidimensional competency profile emerges that is internationally anchored in specialised nursing roles; however, empirical data, role profiles and structured qualification pathways are lacking in German-speaking countries.