Knowledge, skills, and training of prehospital rescue nurses on transport philosophies: a survey

Introduction: various prehospital emergency care methodologies are recognized throughout Italy, with the aim of improving the care and transport of patients with time-sensitive critical illnesses or injuries. The objective of this study is to investigate the self-reported knowledge, training, and competencies of nurses working in prehospital emergency care across Italy, with regard to the various methods of emergency management and transport. Materials and Methods: a multicenter observational study was conducted via a web-based survey administered to Italian nurses working in prehospital emergency care. A descriptive analysis was performed using frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations, and an inferential analysis was conducted using Spearman’s nonparametric correlations (IBM-SPSS ver. 26). Results: a sample of 208 nurses participated in the survey. Ninety-six percent of the nurses reported being familiar with the “scoop and run” and “stay and play” protocols, but 77% of the nurses would not implement them in a trauma and/or shock situation. The knowledge and skills of prehospital emergency nurses regarding shock and transport protocols are lacking, despite the fact that more than 70% of nurses have completed training courses on trauma, shock, and transport protocols. Conclusions: the survey highlights gaps in knowledge and application regarding transport strategies in trauma/shock situations, despite the reported extensive training exposure. Differences by geographic area and experience are part of a structurally heterogeneous 118 system, with non-uniform organizational models and training standards. The results support the need for ongoing training programs and shared minimum criteria for competencies and practices in prehospital emergency care.