Determining Critical Incident Nursing Interventions for the Critical Care Setting: A Pilot Study

PURPOSE.  The purpose of this research survey was to determine which Adult Critical Care Core Nursing Interventions (ACCCNIs) in the Nursing Interventions Classification constitutes a critical incident nursing intervention (CINI). A CINI is defined as any indirect or direct care registered nurse (RN)-initiated treatment performed in response to a life-threatening nursing diagnosis.
METHODS.  A list of ACCCNIs were sent to 50 critical care RNs in two survey rounds. Responses >80% for each ACCCNI was determined to be a CINI.
FINDINGS.  Forty-one ACCCNIs were determined to be CINIs.
CONCLUSIONS.  It is recommended that CINIs be included as a separate Nursing Intervention Classification category to reflect current nursing practice.
IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE.  CINIs can enhance RN competency, education, and vigilance, thereby preventing or decreasing the number of deaths that occur from critical incidents.