title: Nursing Strategies for Effective Weaning of the Critically Ill Mechanically Ventilated Patient.
abstract: The risks imposed by mechanical ventilation can be mitigated by nurses' use of strategies that promote early but appropriate reduction of ventilatory support and timely extubation. Weaning from mechanical ventilation is confounded by the multiple impacts of critical illness on the body's systems. Effective weaning strategies that combine several interventions that optimize weaning readiness and assess readiness to wean, and use a weaning protocol in association with spontaneous breathing trials, are likely to reduce the requirement for mechanical ventilatory support in a timely manner. Weaning strategies should be reviewed and updated regularly to ensure congruence with the best available evidence.
authors.affiliation: Education, Training and Research, Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service, 65 Main Street, Hervey Bay, Queensland 4655, Australia. Electronic address: darian.ward@health.qld.gov.au.
authors.forename: Darian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.affiliation: Nursing Research and Practice Development Centre, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane 4032, Australia; School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, Australian Catholic University, 1100 Nudgee Road, Brisbane 4014, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fulbrook
mesh_terms: D060666:Airway Extubation / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000451:nursing*; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D013997:Time Factors; D015300:Ventilator Weaning / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing
keywords: Critical care; Intensive care; Mechanical ventilation; Nursing; Spontaneous breathing trial; Weaning protocol; Weaning readiness