Advancing Digital Education Technologies by Empowering Nurses With Point-of-Care Ultrasound: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study.

Abstract

Background: Bedside ultrasonography, also known as point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS), is a promising technological tool that enhances clinical assessment, enriching diagnostic capabilities and clinical reasoning. Its use in nursing spans various patient populations and health care settings, providing nurses with a valuable health assessment tool to improve care quality and patient safety. Despite its growing integration into clinical practice, PoCUS training has mainly focused on physicians, leaving a gap for trained nurses who demonstrate similar proficiency in conducting scans and interpreting images. Previous research highlights the value of digital tools in PoCUS training, showing their role in improving professionals' and students' knowledge, image interpretation skills, and clinical acumen.

Objective: This study aimed to (1) establish an assessment instrument gauging nurses' competency milestones in PoCUS and evaluate its content and appearance validity, (2) develop a series of 5 educational videos focused on PoCUS and assess their content and appearance validity, and (3) construct an online learning environment tailored to nurses' PoCUS training needs and evaluate its content and appearance validity.

Methods: We will conduct a methodological study of technological production guided by Rogers' diffusion of innovations theory. Subproject 1 will design and validate a comprehensive assessment tool for evaluating nurses' competency milestones in PoCUS use. For this purpose, a scoping review will be conducted. The review will be based on JBI Collaboration guidelines and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extended for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. Subproject 2 involves an evaluation of content and appearance validity for a series of 5 educational videos on PoCUS, designed specifically for nurses about applying peripherally inserted central catheter lines, inserting nasogastric feeding tubes, assessing gastric residual volume, assessing pressure injuries and soft tissue conditions, and assessing muscle mass to monitor patient nutritional status. In subproject 3, a comprehensive online learning environment dedicated to PoCUS training for nurses will be developed and validated. The launch of an online learning environment represents a cornerstone of our dissemination strategy, scheduled to coincide with the inaugural Brazilian PoCUS symposium for nurses, an event organized by the project members. This platform will serve as a pivotal resource for continuous learning and professional development.

Results: Subproject 1 will start in the second half of 2024 and is expected to be completed by mid-2025. Subproject 2 is currently ongoing and is expected to be completed in early 2026. Subproject 3 is set to begin in early 2025 and is planned to be completed by 2026.

Conclusions: Through these concerted efforts, the project aims to bridge the existing gap in PoCUS training for nurses, thereby fostering their proficiency and enhancing patient care outcomes.

International registered report identifier (irrid): PRR1-10.2196/58030.