Developing a Network protocol: nurse-led weaning from ventilation

Abstract

In modern health care there is an expectation that all practice is evidence-based. One area that has received a lot of attention with regard to its evidence base is weaning from mechanical ventilation. There is a growing body of evidence that suggests that protocol-driven weaning from ventilation improves patient outcomes. In many intensive care units, nurses have taken a lead role in weaning patients from ventilation. This paper describes a nurse-led weaning protocol that was developed by a critical care network. The protocol is explained, and the charts that were developed to support it are presented. The protocol is currently being implemented in four different intensive care units, which are being audited during the first six months of its use. The audit processes of data collection and analysis are also described.