title: Nursing care of the mechanically ventilated patient: what does the evidence say? Part one.
abstract: The care of the mechanically ventilated patient is at the core of a nurse's clinical practice in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Published work relating to the numerous nursing issues of the care of the mechanically ventilated patient in the ICU is growing significantly. Literature focuses on patient assessment and management strategies for patient stressors, pain and sedation. Yet this literature is fragmentary by nature. The purpose of this paper is to provide a single comprehensive examination of the evidence related to the care of the mechanically ventilated patient. In part one of this two-part paper, the evidence on nursing care of the mechanically ventilated patient is explored with specific focus on patient safety: particularly patient and equipment assessment. Part two of the paper examines the evidence related to the mechanically ventilated patient's comfort, the patient/family unit, patient position, hygiene, management of stressors, pain management and sedation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Butterfield St., Brisbane, Qld 4029, Australia.
authors.forename: Bronwyn A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Couchman
authors.forename: Sharon M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wetzig
authors.forename: Fiona M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Coyer
authors.forename: Margaret K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Wheeler
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001510:Bed Rest / Q000451:nursing; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000451:nursing; D003422:Critical Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000451:nursing; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000451:nursing*; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D017592:Skin Care / Q000451:nursing; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013597:Systems Analysis