title: Seeing beyond monitors-Critical care nurses' multiple skills in patient observation: Descriptive qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive description of multiple skills in patient observation in critical care nursing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from semi-structured interviews were analysed using thematic analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experienced critical care nurses (n=20) from three intensive care units in two university hospitals in Finland.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient observation skills consist of: information gaining skills, information processing skills, decision-making skills and co-operation skills. The first three skills are integrated in the patient observation process, in which gaining information is a prerequisite for processing information that precedes making decisions. Co-operation has a special role as it occurs throughout the process.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provided a comprehensive description of patient observation skills related to the three-phased patient observation process. The findings contribute to clarifying this part of the competence. The description of patient observation skills may be applied in both clinical practice and education as it may serve as a framework for orientation, ensuring clinical skills and designing learning environments. Based on this study, patient observation skills can be recommended to be included in critical care nursing education, orientation and as a part of critical care nurses' competence evaluation.
authors.affiliation: University of Turku, Department of Nursing Science, 20014 Turun yliopisto, Finland; Laurea University of Applied Sciences, Ratatie 22, 01300 Vantaa, Finland. Electronic address: mika.p.alastalo@utu.fi.
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alastalo
authors.affiliation: University of Turku, Department of Nursing Science, 20014 Turun yliopisto, Finland. Electronic address: leena.kaarina.salminen@utu.fi.
authors.forename: Leena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salminen
authors.affiliation: University of Turku, Department of Nursing Science, 20014 Turun yliopisto, Finland; Turku University of Applied Sciences, Joukahaisenkatu 3, 20520 Turku, Finland. Electronic address: riitta-liisa.lakanmaa@turkuamk.fi.
authors.forename: Riitta-Liisa
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Lakanmaa
authors.affiliation: University of Turku, Department of Nursing Science, 20014 Turun yliopisto, Finland; Turku University Hospital, PL 52, 20521 Turku, Finland. Electronic address: helena.leino-kilpi@utu.fi.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leino-Kilpi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D064648:Critical Care Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards; D009736:Nursing Process / Q000592:standards; D019370:Observation / Q000379:methods*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: Clinical skills; Critical care nursing; Patient observation; Qualitative descriptive study; Thematic analysis