Identifying Key Competencies for Ambulance Nurses in Italy: Findings from a Modified Delphi Study.

Introduction: Prehospital emergency nursing is a critical domain requiring specialized competencies and robust clinical preparation. Nurses in this sector manage high-complexity situations necessitating a broad range of competencies. This study aimed to identify and validate the essential competencies required for specialized ambulance nurses in Italy using a modified Delphi methodology.

Methods: A Delphi study was conducted with a panel of 10 experts, including clinical practitioners and academic professionals. The study involved 2 rounds of questionnaires designed to gather and refine expert opinions on the competencies necessary for ambulance nurses.

Results: The experts identified a comprehensive set of 77 competencies across various domains, emphasizing advanced clinical competencies, decision-making abilities, communication, interpersonal competencies, and leadership. The first round highlighted 31 competencies from clinical experts and 46 from academic experts, with significant overlaps and some divergences. The second round achieved high consensus on many competencies, though some areas, such as holistic and spiritual competencies, showed varied levels of agreement.

Discussion: The identified competencies underscore the complexity and dynamic nature of prehospital emergency nursing. The results provide a framework for developing targeted training programs to prepare nurses for the demands of this field. Continuing education emerged as a crucial element for maintaining and enhancing competencies in the evolving landscape of emergency health care.