Decisions made by critical care nurses during mechanical ventilation and weaning in an Australian Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Background: Responsibilities of critical care nurses for management of mechanical ventilation may differ among countries. Organizational interventions, including weaning protocols, may have a variable impact in settings that differ in nursing autonomy and interdisciplinary collaboration. Objective: To characterize the role of Australian critical care nurses in the management of mechanical ventilation. Methods: A 3-month, prospective cohort study was performed. All clinical decisions related to mechanical ventilation in a 24-bed, combined medical-surgical adult intensive care unit at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, a university-affiliated teaching hospital in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, wer..