Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42194378›Full record

ReviewHealthcare (Basel, Switzerland)2026

Impact of Nurse-Performed Point-of-Care Ultrasound (PoCUS) in Adult Intensive Care: A Systematic Review.

Marco Abagnale, Chiara Palazzo, Nicolò Zampetti, Melania De Filippo, Rita Citarella, Fabio Gennaro Abagnale, Luciano Cecere, Francesco Limonti, Francesco Gravante

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Marco AbagnaleUnit of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Department of Critical Care, M. Scarlato Hospital, Local Health Authority of Salerno, 84018 Scafati, Italy.ORCID 0009-0001-5639-6142
Chiara PalazzoDepartment of Oncology, Hematology and Cellular Therapies, Santobono Pausilipon Hospital, 80123 Naples, Italy.ORCID 0009-0001-6293-4648
Nicolò ZampettiDepartment of Health Care, Local Health Authority of Benevento, San Giorgio del Sannio, 82018 Benevento, Italy.ORCID 0009-0008-1444-7694
Melania De FilippoColorectal Surgical Oncology, Department of Abdominal Oncology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-IRCCS "Fondazione G.Pascale", 80131 Naples, Italy.ORCID 0009-0005-7634-0284
Rita CitarellaDepartment of Surgery and Anaesthesia, Umberto I Hospital, Local Health Authority of Salerno, 84014 Nocera Inferiore, Italy.ORCID 0009-0001-1983-1440
Fabio Gennaro AbagnaleUnit of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Department of Critical Care, M. Scarlato Hospital, Local Health Authority of Salerno, 84018 Scafati, Italy.ORCID 0009-0004-8972-7106
Luciano CecereDepartment of Anesthesia and Resuscitation, A.O.R.N. Antonio Cardarelli, 80131 Naples, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-8605-0014
Francesco LimontiDepartment of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional (DFSSN), University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-4781-7715
Francesco GravanteIntensive Care Unit, Department of Critical Care, G. Moscati Hospital, Local Health Authority of Caserta, 81100 Caserta, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-3548-6018

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesPoint-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is increasingly used in intensive care units (ICUs) as a rapid bedside diagnostic tool supporting timely clinical assessment. The impact of nurse-performed POCUS on clinical management, procedural performance, and professional practice in adult ICUs has not yet been systematically synthesized. This review aimed to evaluate the integration of nurse-performed POCUS into nursing care and its effects on technical, decision-making, and professional outcomes.

methodsA systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 and the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis. PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and Web of Science were searched without time restrictions. Original studies were included if they involved adult ICU patients and evaluated POCUS performed by nurses, reporting clinical, procedural, or professional outcomes. Methodological quality was assessed using JBI and MMAT checklists according to study design.

resultsEleven studies were included. The results were synthesized into four primary domains: (1) support for the clinical decision-making process, (2) technical performance and procedural outcomes, (3) diagnostic accuracy, and (4) professional autonomy, training, and sustainability of competencies. Nurse-performed POCUS was associated with management changes in 26-67% of assessments and improved first-attempt success in ultrasound-guided peripheral venous access. Diagnostic accuracy was acceptable when supported by structured training, with no reported increase in complications.

conclusionsNurse-performed POCUS in adult ICUs appears safe and practice-enhancing, supporting decision-making and selected procedural outcomes. Further multi-center controlled studies are required to clarify its impact on major clinical endpoints and long-term outcomes.

Indexed as

advanced nursing practiceclinical decision-makingcritical care nursingdiagnostic accuracyintensive care unitpoint-of-care ultrasoundprofessional autonomyvascular access

Identifiers

PMID42194378
PMCPMC13205619

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.