Original Articles
Vol. 43 No. 2 (2026)
Knowledge, skills, and training of prehospital rescue nurses on transport philosophies: a survey
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Published: 21 May 2026
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Introduction: various prehospital emergency care methodologies are recognized throughout Italy, with the aim of improving the care and transport of patients with time-sensitive critical illnesses or injuries. The objective of this study is to investigate the self-reported knowledge, training, and competencies of nurses working in prehospital emergency care across Italy, with regard to the various methods of emergency management and transport.
Materials and Methods: a multicenter observational study was conducted via a web-based survey administered to Italian nurses working in prehospital emergency care. A descriptive analysis was performed using frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations, and an inferential analysis was conducted using Spearman’s nonparametric correlations (IBM-SPSS ver. 26).
Results: a sample of 208 nurses participated in the survey. Ninety-six percent of the nurses reported being familiar with the “scoop and run” and “stay and play” protocols, but 77% of the nurses would not implement them in a trauma and/or shock situation. The knowledge and skills of prehospital emergency nurses regarding shock and transport protocols are lacking, despite the fact that more than 70% of nurses have completed training courses on trauma, shock, and transport protocols.
Conclusions: the survey highlights gaps in knowledge and application regarding transport strategies in trauma/shock situations, despite the reported extensive training exposure. Differences by geographic area and experience are part of a structurally heterogeneous 118 system, with non-uniform organizational models and training standards. The results support the need for ongoing training programs and shared minimum criteria for competencies and practices in prehospital emergency care.
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How to Cite
Knowledge, skills, and training of prehospital rescue nurses on transport philosophies: a survey. (2026). Scenario® - Il Nursing Nella Sopravvivenza, 43(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/scenario.2026.630
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