Protective lung strategies: A cross sectional survey of nurses knowledge and use in the emergency department

Abstract

Background Mechanical ventilation (MV) is commonly used in emergency departments (EDs). Protective lung strategies (PLS), comprising of low tidal volume (6 mL/kg), control of oxygen and plateau pressures, and administration of positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) has been shown to reduces the risks associated with MV but there is little evidence exists about nurses’ knowledge or application of PLS. Our aim was to explore nurses knowledge and application of PLS in Australian EDs. Methods Descriptive, exploratory design utilising an online questionnaire. A convenience sample was recruited via the College of Emergency Nursing Australasia mailing list and secondary snowball sampling was used ..