title: Nurses' perceptions of subspecialization in pediatric cardiac intensive care unit: quality and patient safety implications.
abstract: This study assessed the perceptions of nurses about the creation and staffing of a dedicated cardiac intensive care unit. Nurses perceived a clinical benefit to cohorting cardiac surgery patients; however, they reported more knowledge deficits in cardiac patient care than other intensive care unit disease categories. More than 25% of nurses reported a patient assignment in which they identified suboptimal skills to provide safe patient care. Years of clinical experience did not reduce concerns for quality of care or safe practice.
authors.affiliation: Children's Memorial Hospital and Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 2300 Children's Plaza, Box 73, Chicago, IL 60614, USA. jkane@childrensmemorial.org
authors.forename: Jason M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Preze
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000451:nursing*; D002648:Child; D003422:Critical Care / Q000592:standards*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D017751:Safety Management / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult