Barriers to learning and performing point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS): An integrative review

Background

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a valuable adjunct to traditional imaging and physical exam. Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners (AGACNPs) serve as primary providers for acutely ill patients across the country, yet there is limited literature to describe the AGACNP experience with POCUS training and clinical application.

Purpose

This integrative review was to describe barriers to learning and performing POCUS that AGACNP's experience, identify necessary components of a successful POCUS curriculum, and synthesize evidence to propose solutions.

Method

CINAHL, PubMed, and Ovid databases were systematically searched for publications. Two reviewers completed the quality appraisal of the 12 articles identified during the literature search.

Results

Common barriers include: formal training; access to ultrasound machines; quality assurance; time to perform exams; inability to use findings in documentation/decision making. Low confidence may be an underrepresented barrier. Successful training programs include an introductory class with mixed didactic and hands-on training, training with live models, direct supervision and image review by experts, and longitudinal training.

Conclusion

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners are capable of learning and incorporating POCUS use into clinical practice. Broad solutions can be instituted to remove barriers, but more research is needed to describe necessary components of a successful POCUS training program.