Learning needs of proficient and experienced nurses in emergency and intensive care relating to nursing patients with severe trauma

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to clarify the learning needs of proficient and experienced nurses in the emergency and intensive care fields relating to nursing patients with severe trauma.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 proficient and nine experienced emergency and intensive care nurses. Online interviews were conducted about required learning for nursing patients with severe trauma. A qualitative descriptive research method was used for analysis.

Results: We generated the following categories regarding learning needs for nursing of patients with severe trauma: for proficient nurses, seven categories including [accurate understanding of initial treatment guidelines for trauma that form the basis of trauma nursing]; and for experienced nurses, seven categories including [discussing case studies to share experiences and improve trauma nursing care].

Conclusion: The learning required by proficient and experienced nurses for nursing patients with severe trauma shared features such as acquiring relevant medical knowledge and case studies. However, differences existed in needs due to nurse experience and qualifications. This finding suggests that trauma nursing education should be based on experience.