Determining competence of experienced critical care nurses

A prescriptive algorithm to determine competence in an adult critical care setting guides cost-effective hiring and education of critical care nurses at the VA Medical Center in West Los Angeles. Outcomes included efficient mobilization of 15 RNs with critical care experience and a management tool that facilitated interviewing of candidates. Duplication of educational programs was avoided, thus saving this federal institution's inservice dollars while assuring quality care.