Nurses' perceptions of education on invasive mechanical ventilation

Background: Intensive care units (ICUs) encompass advanced clinical management and technology, mandating continuing education for nurses to maintain competency. This study examined nurses' perceptions of current education on invasive mechanical ventilation in an Australian ICU. Methods: Qualitative data were obtained from five optional open-ended questions as part of a larger 30- item cross-sectional survey of 160 ICU nurses. Content analysis was used to code the data, developing concepts and themes. Results: Fifty nurses (31%) completed at least one open-ended question. Content analysis identifi ed fi ve major themes: advanced knowledge, in-service education, practical structured education, interactive bedside teaching, and practicing safe care. Respondents' perceived continuing education on invasive mechanical ventilation to be more focused on novice than experienced ICU nurses and recommended practical, structured bedside teaching as the preferred method of education. Conclusion: Respondents recognized the need for interactive, practical, bedside education sessions to transfer learning into the everyday work environment

Education of ICU nurses regarding invasive mechanical ventilation: Findings from a cross-sectional survey

Background: Continuing education for intensive care unit nurses on invasive mechanical ventilation is fundamental to the acquisition and maintenance of knowledge and skills to optimise patient outcomes. Purpose: We aimed to determine how intensive care unit nurses perceived current education provided on mechanical ventilation, including a self-directed learning package and a competency programme; identify other important topics and forms of education; and determine factors associated with the completion of educational programmes on invasive mechanical ventilation. Methods: A cross-sectional, 30-item, self-administered and semi-structured survey on invasive mechanical ventilation education was distributed to 160 intensive care nurses. Analysis included descriptive statistics and logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with current education completion, reported as adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Findings: Eighty three intensive care unit nurses responded and the majority (63%) reported not receiving education about mechanical ventilation prior to working in intensive care. Using a Likert rating scale the self-directed learning package and competency programme were perceived as valuable and beneficial. Hands-on-practice was perceived as the most important form of education and ventilator settings as the most important topic. Multivariate analysis determined that older age was independently associated with not completing the self-directed learning package (AOR 0.20, 95% CI 0.04, 0.93). For the competency programme, 4-6 years intensive care experience was independently associated with completion (AOR 17, 95% CI 1.7, 165) and part-time employment was associated with non-completion (AOR 0.23, 95% CI 0.08, 0.68). Conclusion: Registered nurses are commencing their ICU experience with limited knowledge of invasive MV therefore the education provided within the ICU workplace becomes fundamental to safe and effective practice. The perception of continuing education by ICU nurses from this research is positive regardless of level of ICU experience and may influence the type of continuing education on invasive MV provided to ICU nurses in the future, not only in the ICU involved in this study, but other units throughout Australia