A Consensus Study on the Competencies of Nurse Specialists Providing Care for Craniofacial and Cleft Lip and Palate Patients

Currently, it is unclear which tasks and competencies nurse specialists provide within the European Reference Network for Craniofacial Anomalies and Ear, Nose, Throat Disorders (ERN CRANIO). This study aims to establish an expert consensus on the needed competencies for this nursing role. A narrative literature search on the role of nurses within cleft and craniofacial care was conducted. Statements on competencies and tasks were formed based on literature and expert opinion and categorized according to the Canadian Medical Education Directives for Specialists roles. A Delphi consensus process was conducted with nurse specialists from ERN CRANIO centers. A 9-point Likert Scale was used to measure consensus, which was defined as a mean score of ≥7 and ≤1 outliers. In total, 31 nurse specialists from 19 centers in 12 countries participated in the Delphi process. Overall, 105 statements on competencies and tasks achieved consensus. The domain “communicator” reached consensus on all items, while the domains “manager” and “scholar” perceived lesser and slower consensus. The nursing title, education, and nursing scope of practice revealed a great variety. This study provides valuable insight into the utilization of nursing roles with ERN CRANIO centers. Apart from demonstrating similarities, it also shows that national health care regulations and education pathways lead to different positions and (clinical) responsibilities of nurses. A European unification of nursing education and titles could ensure easier communication and collaboration between health professionals and might support a greater establishment of well-defined nurse specialist roles in ERN CRANIO centers.