Nitric oxide education survey – Use of a Delphi survey to produce guidelines for training neonatal nurses to work with inhaled nitric oxide

The Delphi survey technique was used to identify consensus opinion, amongst a group of experts, on how best to train neonatal nurses to work safely and effectively with nitric oxide, and generic training guidelines were formulated.

Abstract

The pulmonary vasodilator nitric oxide is potentially dangerous for both patients and staff. There is however little published guidance about appropriate training for staff. This study used the Delphi survey technique to identify consensus opinion, amongst a group of experts, on how best to train neonatal nurses to work safely and effectively with nitric oxide. The consensus was used to formulate generic training guidelines which can be used to guide staff who are running or setting up nitric oxide training programmes. An internet site was established to publicise the survey and resulting guidelines and to act as a resource for neonatal staff seeking information about nitric oxide.