[SICI-GISE Position paper on the standards of cardiac catheterization laboratories in Italy: qualitative and quantitative standards of the Nurses and Allied Professionals Group]. / Documento di posizione SICI-GISE sugli standard dei laboratori di diagnostica e interventistica cardiovascolare: le professioni sanitarie del comparto standard qualitativi e quantitativi.

This document aims to be an integral part of the SICI-GISE position document on standards and guidelines for cardiovascular diagnostic intervention laboratories published in October 2015. It was created with the aim of defining quality and quantitative standards by providing practical support for the structuring of a training course to reach high levels of assistance for nursing and technical personnel working within the catheterization laboratories. The competences detected are the expression of a highly specialized organizational and operational reality that combines technicality with a well-defined clinical assistance need as an expression of a real patient care. The Nurses & Technicians Area of SICI-GISE aimed at issuing a flexible and dynamic document based on technical and operational progress which, in addition to defining qualitative and quantitative standards, describes the underlying knowledge of the professionals of the sector operating in our laboratories. This is the first experience that, through a survey carried out in 2015, has been able to decline qualitative and quantitative data so as to provide resources and skills for measuring and improving assistance outcomes.

[Role of nurses in managing complex instruments]. / Ruolo dell'infermiere nella gestione delle dotazioni strumentali avanzate.

Over the last years, the nursing profession has witnessed major changes because of the new regulations that apply to this healthcare field. In order to outline the role of nurses in managing the sophisticated equipment for critically ill patients hospitalized in a coronary care unit, these new regulations should be taken into consideration. At present, the current deontological code defines the reference criteria for defining nurse's competence, responsibilities and actions, and for which education and updating are necessary. According to these criteria, nurses are responsible for and act autonomously in managing problems of healthcare assistance and in putting into practice diagnostic-therapeutic prescriptions. These goals are achieved by means of an assistance plan. Nowadays, coronary care units are equipped with complex diagnostic and therapeutic tools, such as mechanical ventilation, intra-aortic counterpulsation and continuous hemodialfiltration, which requires specific clinical nursing competence. The high-level clinical nursing competence necessary to use these complex devices appropriately can only be achieved by dedicated training programs and professional experience, including education programs for new and experienced nurse staff.