title: Achieving quality patient-ventilator management: advancing evidence-based nursing care.
abstract: This article presents suggestions for nurses to gain skill, competence, and comfort in caring for critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilatory support, with a specific focus on education strategies and building communication skills with these challenging nonverbal patients. Engaging in evidence-based practice projects at the unit level and participating in or leading research studies are key ways nurses can contribute to improving outcomes for patients receiving mechanical ventilation. Suggestions are offered for evidence-based practice projects and possible research studies to improve outcomes and advance the science in an effort to achieve quality patient-ventilator management in intensive care units.
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota School of Nursing, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. chlan001@umn.edu
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chlan
authors.forename: Mary F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Tracy
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Grossbach
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D003422:Critical Care / Q000592:standards*; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing; D006801:Humans; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000451:nursing*