Critical care nurses management of prolonged weaning: an interview study

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Nursing
• Mechanical Ventilation Weaning
• Patient Management

Background:

• Prolonged mechanical ventilation weaning presents challenges for critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs).
• Successful weaning requires substantial knowledge and experience from critical care nurses (CCNs).
• Difficult weaning can lead to increased complications and mortality risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the approaches used by critical care nurses (CCNs) for managing patients undergoing prolonged weaning in the ICU.
• To understand the strategies and themes associated with prolonged weaning management by experienced CCNs.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive qualitative research design was employed.
• Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 experienced critical care nurses (CCNs).
• Content analysis was used to analyze the interview data.

Main Results:

• CCNs utilized strategies including individualized planning, patient capacity assessment, process management, and team interaction.
• A central theme identified was that CCNs actively drive the weaning process.
• The approach was characterized as both patient-centered and targeted.

Conclusions:

• CCNs implement a holistic, patient-centered approach to prolonged weaning, encompassing planning, initiation, assessment, and establishment of the process.
• Effective team collaboration among healthcare professionals is crucial for successful weaning.
• CCNs play a pivotal role in prioritizing and advancing the weaning process for critically ill patients.
• CCNs' proximity to patients and management role offers unique potential for developing specialized prolonged weaning tools and models.