A preliminary analysis of psychophysiological variables and nursing performance in situations of increasing criticality

Objective: To examine the relationship between psychological, physiological , and performance variables in intensive care unit (ICU) nurses in situatio ns of increasing criticality, Subjects and Methods: Psychophysiological variables and endotracheal suctio ning performance were examined in a classroom, a skills laboratory, and an ICU, Situation-specific anxiety (state anxiety) and the predisposition to v iew situations as threatening (trait anxiety), cognitive appraisal, and hea rt rate were measured and compared with self-appraisal and a nurse instruct or's ratings of suctioning performance. Baseline data were obtained during class on 45 novice ICU nurses. Results: Twenty-six nurses provided complete data, which included being vid eotaped and monitored in the classroom, in the skills laboratory performing endotracheal suctioning, and in the ICU during suctioning, High state anxi ety significantly predicted poor ICU suctioning performance (P<,04), Nurses high in state and trait anxiety, worry, and heart rate performed poorly co mpared with less anxious nurses. Nurses in this study who performed best ha d a mean heart rate of 94 beats/min. Conclusion: Those nurses who are high state anxious, high trait anxious, an d worried and who had a faster heart rate performed less well than their mo re relaxed peers. Nurses with high state anxiety may be at risk for attriti on, burnout, medical errors, and poor performance in other ICU nursing task s.