Psychometric Testing of a Structured Assessment Instrument for Non-technical Skills (NANTS-no) for Use in Clinical Supervision of Student Nurse Anesthetists

Abstract

Background: This study evaluated psychometric properties of a structured behavioral assessment instrument, Nurse Anaesthetists’ Non-Technical Skills—Norway (NANTSno). It estimated whether reliable assessments of nontechnical skills (NTS) could be made after taking part in a workshop. An additional objective was to evaluate the instrument’s acceptability and usability. Methods: An explorative design was used. Nurse anesthetists (n = 46) involved in clinical supervision attended a 6-hour workshop on NTS, then rated NTS in video-recorded simulated scenarios and completed a questionnaire. Results: High reliability and dependability were estimated in this setting. Participants regarded the instrument as useful for clinical supervision of student nurse anesthetists (SNAs). Conclusions: Findings suggest that NANTS-no may be reliable for performing clinical assessments of SNAs and encouraging critical reflection. However, further research is needed to explore its use in clinical settings.