Practice standards for Australian cardiovascular nurses: An electronic Delphi study

Background: Professional standards for nurse practice protect the public and define the scope of nursing broadly and in specialty areas. Nurses encounter patients with cardiovascular disease in a variety of clinical contexts, and specialty practice standards have the potential to articulate the scope and role expectations for nurses caring for this population. Practice standards and role expectations for nurses caring for cardiovascular patients in Australia were developed through electronic Delphi (eDelphi) technique. Aim: To present the development of practice standards and role expectations for Australian cardiovascular nurses. Methods: Three-round eDelphi survey with experts from a broad range of contexts who identified as cardiovascular nurses to reach a consensus on the Practice Standards for Australian Cardiovascular Nurses. External stakeholder agreement was also sought on the final version prior to publication. Findings: Three domains were identified: Clinical Care, Cultural Safety, and Person-Centred Care, and Leadership and Teamwork, and their supporting elements. Role expectations reflected the varied context and scope of practice. Discussion: These standards describe the scope of cardiovascular nursing practice regardless of context. Underpinning the standards is the recognition of person-centred care and cultural safety. The standards provide a framework for professional recognition, support the delivery of patient care, and may be used to aid curriculum development in cardiovascular nursing education. Conclusion: The eDelphi technique and external stakeholder agreement validated the expected capability of nurses involved in the assessment, management, and evaluation of care for the cardiovascular patient. The standards and role expectations reflect the various contexts where care for the cardiovascular patient occurs.