ACCCN Workforce Standards for Intensive Care Nursing: Systematic and evidence review, development, and appraisal
Loading...
Date
2017-08-28
Authors
Chamberlain, Diane Joy
Pollock, Wendy
Fulbrook, Paul
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Rights
© 2017 Australian College of Critical Care Nurses Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access
article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Rights Holder
© 2017 Australian College of Critical Care Nurses Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Abstract
Background: The intensive care nursing workforce plays an essential role in the achievement of positive
healthcare outcomes. A growing body of evidence indicates that inadequate nurse staffing and poor skill
mix are associated with negative outcomes for patients, and potentially compromises nurses’ ability to
maintain the safety of those in their care. In Australia, the Australian College of Critical Care Nurses
(ACCCN) has previously published a position statement on intensive care staffing. There was a need for a
stronger more evidence based document to support the intensive nursing workforce.
Objectives: To undertake a systematic and evidence review of the evidence related to intensive care
nurse staffing and quality of care, and determine evidence-based professional standards for the intensive
care nursing workforce in Australia.
Methods: The National Health and Medical Research Council standard for clinical practice guidelines
methodology was employed. The English language literature, for the years 2000-2015 was searched.
Draft standards were developed and then peer- and consumer-reviewed.
Results: A total of 553 articles was retrieved from the initial searches. Following evaluation, 231 articles
met the inclusion criteria and were assessed for quality using established criteria. This evidence was used
as the basis for the development of ten workforce standards, and to establish the overall level of evidence
in support of each standard. All draft standards and their subsections were supported multiprofessionally
(median score >6) and by consumers (85e100% agreement). Following minor revisions,
independent appraisal using the AGREE II tool indicated that the standards were developed with a high
degree of rigour.
Conclusion: The ACCCN intensive care nursing nurse workforce standards are the first to be developed
using a robust, evidence-based process. The standards represent the optimal nurse workforce to achieve
the best patient outcomes and to maintain a sustainable intensive care nursing workforce for Australia.
Description
This is an open access
article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Keywords
intensive care nursing, standards, workforce, staffing
Citation
Chamberlain, D., Pollock, W. & Fulbrook, P., (2017). ACCCN Workforce Standards for Intensive Care Nursing: Systematic and evidence review, development, and appraisal. Australian Critical Care, 31: 292-302.