The Obstacles Perceived by Critical Care Nurses in Performing Endotracheal Suctioning

A descriptive exploratory study to identify the performance obstacles perceived by critical care nurses in performing end tracheal suctioning was conducted in eight intensive care units of AIMS, Kochi.

The objectives of the study were to; (1) Identify the performance obstacles perceived by critical care nurses while performing ET suctioning (2) Find out the opinion of critical care nurses on overcoming the performance obstacles identified in ET suctioning (3) Prepare a strategy to improve the practices of critical care nurses on ET suctioning.

The design used for the study was exploratory descriptive design with nonprobability convenience sampling technique (N=50).

The performance obstacles during suctioning as perceived by nurses were; difficult procedure without assistance (84%), restless patient (84%), distractions (52%), inadequate training either during student period (78%) or as a staff nurse (46%) or before practicing in the unit (62%) and unaware of research finding on ET suctioning (76%). All of them suggested the need for; training at the beginning of clinical posting in the unit, clear cut guideline/protocol on ET suctioning and updating of guideline/equipment.

The performance obstacles were categorized into knowledge, skill, technology and tool and organization and were rated by the nurses as minimum, medium and many. The performance obstacles perceived by nurses were mostly related to skill in ET suctioning. The major knowledge related performance obstacles perceived by nurses’ was inadequate training on ET suctioning in a real patient as a student (78%). Training on ET suctioning should be given in the beginning of clinical posting in critical care unit.