This study, “Decisions Made by Critical Care Nurses During Mechanical Ventilation and Weaning in an Australian Intensive Care Unit,” by Rose and colleagues, reports on a 3-month prospective cohort study of 474 patients admitted to a medical-surgical intensive care unit (ICU) in Australia. The study assessed the role of Australian critical care nurses in decision making regarding mechanical ventilation and weaning. Sixty-seven percent of the patients (n=319) received mechanical ventilation during the 81-day study period. A total of 3986 ventilation and weaning decisions were made including ventilator setting changes as well as adjustments to rate or pressure support, tidal volume, positive-end expiratory pressure, and fraction of inspired oxygen. Nurses made 64% of decisions, physicians made 17%, and 19% were made collaboratively.

The results of the study demonstrated high levels of responsibility and autonomy of critical care nurses in decision making regarding mechanical ventilation and weaning.

Louise Rose, mn, Adult...

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