Authors: Chizu Matsumoto R.N, Emiko Shinozaki R.N.
Aims: To clarify the minimum requirements for physical assessment of patients conducted by nurses newly assigned to NICUs.
Methods: A questionnaire survey was administered to 333 certified neonatal intensive care nurses. The questionnaire inquired about the minimum requirements for nurses newly assigned to NICUs in order for them to care for pediatric patients by themselves. The items considered “absolutely necessary” by 80% of the subjects or more were regarded as the minimum requirements for physical assessment in NICUs.
Results and Conclusion: A total of 85 subjects completed the questionnaire with effective answers (25.5%). From the initial 170 items (17, 129, 10, and 14 for basic information, visual examination, auscultation, and palpation, respectively), 18 were extracted (3, 9, and 6 for basic information, visual examination, and auscultation, respectively). Of the 18 items, 10 concerned respiration. Our study suggests that respiratory management is important to care for high-risk newborns, and this is one of the minimum requirements for NICU nurses performing physical assessment.
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