A Delphi study to validate competencies required of Air Force Medical Surgical (46N3) nurses in mobilized environments

The objectives of this study were to develop competencies for wartime and operations other than war for 46N3 Medical/Surgical Air Force nurses and to validate those competencies among a group of experts in the field. The sample consisted of 109 nurses with mobilization experiences. A Delphi consensus technique was used to validate both the importance of competencies required in a mobilization environment and to determine the level at which those competencies should be practiced. A web-based questionnaire was used to collect responses during three rounds of data collection. At the end of round 3, 83% of the importance statements achieved consensus whereas 67% of the level of practice statements achieved consensus. Those importance items validated were traditional assessment and interventions skills that represented noncontroversial practices. Those items not validated were either controversial or perceived as not pertinent in an austere mobilization environment.