Evaluation of Implementation of Airway Care Safety Guidelines for Patients under Mechanical Ventilation in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) by Nurses

Caring for patients treated with mechanical ventilation is of particular importance because of its complications. The occurrence of various diseases, including pneumonia and its resulting mortality, is affected by inadequate and improper implementation of principled and safe instructions by the care team, especially nurses.

This study aimed to evaluate the implementation of airway care safety guidelines for patients under mechanical ventilation.

This descriptive study was performed in 2020 in the intensive care units (ICUs) of selected Military hospitals in Tehran. The study population included all nurses working in these wards. The performance of 90 nurses working in these wards was observed four times. A total of 270 observations of nurses’ performance in patients’ airway care were recorded in a researcher-made observation checklist. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 25 and descriptive and inferential statistical tests such as independent t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient. The significance level was considered less than 0.05.

In total, 61.1% were male, 54.4% were married, 92.2% were bachelor, and 7.2% had a formal contract with a mean age of 33.36±8.44 years. The total amount of care in the first time was 35.08±7.59, in the second time was 35.12±7.30, and in the third time was 35.61±7.05. Safe airway care of patients had a significant relationship with the variables of gender, marital status, work experience, type of employment, shift and work history of patient safety, intensive care, and mechanical ventilation.

In this study, it was found that the status of implementation of airway safety instructions by nurses for patients under mechanical ventilation is at an unfavorable level. Further monitoring of nurses’ performance, practical and quality training on how to care for patients’ airways, and strict implementation of safety instructions are strongly recommended.