Holistic Care for Patients During Weaning from Mechanical Ventilation: A Qualitative Study

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Nursing
• Patient Recovery
• Holistic Healthcare

Background:

• Mechanical ventilation weaning is a complex process requiring comprehensive patient assessment and care.
• Critical care nurses play a vital role in managing patients undergoing weaning.
• Addressing all patient needs is essential for successful weaning from mechanical ventilation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore critical care nurses' perspectives on providing holistic care to patients being weaned from mechanical ventilation.
• To understand the experiences and challenges faced by nurses during the mechanical ventilation weaning process.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative content analysis of semi-structured interviews.
• Data collected from 25 ICU staff (nurses, managers, educators) in six Iranian hospitals (2014-2015).
• Purposive sampling to select participants.

Main Results:

• Four emergent themes: continuous care, holistic patient overview, promoting human dignity, and overall well-being development.
• Nurses emphasized the importance of individualized and comprehensive care approaches.
• Patient dignity and well-being were central to the nurses' experience of holistic care.

Conclusions:

• Enhancing holistic care involves moving beyond routine expertise to recognize nonphysical patient aspects.
• Utilizing experienced ICU nurses and prioritizing effective, respectful communication improves patient care quality.
• Honoring patients as human beings is crucial for elevating the holistic standard of care during weaning.