Nursing Students' Competency in Pediatric Critical Care Nursing: The Challenging Role of Nursing Instructors

Abstract

          The complexity and criticality of child health regarding infants, children, and adolescents may lead to higher mortality rates. So, critical care nursing goals must include promoting optimal patient safety and quality of care to critically ill patients and their families. Pediatric critical care nurses must be able to provide highly individualized care, early detection, continuously monitor patients for physiological changes, confront problems proactively, assist patients in achieving and maintaining an optimum level of functioning or facilitating recovery, patient-centered, safe, effective, and efficient. Overall, the nursing interventions are expected to be delivered promptly and equitably. Pediatric nurses play a significant role in providing direct nursing care to children and their families, being advocates, educators, and managers. The statement of competencies in the care of the critically ill is a crucial aspect of achieving the goal of providing high-quality education.

          Pediatric nurses in critical care units are envisioned to adopt specific competencies in the following three major key responsibility aspects: 1) demonstrating specific knowledge and skills in caring for infants, children, and adolescents in the critical care setting; 2) demonstrating professional clinical critical thinking skills to make appropriate decisions and provide the highest quality care for patients; and 3) demonstrating effective interpersonal interaction, including effective communication, interdisciplinary collaboration, and caring behaviors to facilitate the care and management of patients.

          Overall, this essay provides a comprehensive source of information on pediatric nursing care, competency in pediatric critical care, and recommendations for developing Competencies for nursing students' Bachelor's degree at the Faculty of Nursing, Praboromarajchanok Institute.