Abstract
M.Cur. (Nursing Science)
Weaning from mechanical ventilation is defined as the gradual reduction of mechanical ventilation support to the spontaneous breathing of a patient. The weaning process is an art. The success of weaning depends on the resolution of the conditions that have caused the patient to be mechanically ventilated, daily assessment, weaning screening of the patient, the patient’s readiness, the effective application of the weaning method, and the weaning technique used.
If the first attempt at weaning is unsuccessful, numerous complications may set in, ranging from re-intubation, barotrauma, tracheal stenosis, infection, gastro-intestinal bleeding, and deep-vein thrombosis. The researcher observed, that in the intensive care unit where she works, few patients were weaned successfully at the first attempt of the weaning process. The question arises therefore, why the statistics of successful weaning are so low? Could it be due to a lack of knowledge and/or a poor attitude among nurses towards the weaning process?
Quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive, and contextual research was conducted to determine the knowledge and attitudes of intensive care nurses regarding the weaning process of patients in a private hospital in Gauteng. The sample consisted of all nurses working in the intensive care unit who were involved in the weaning process of mechanically ventilated patients. A survey method of a self-administered questionnaire was used. The validity and reliability of the process was tested, with a Cronbach alpha of 0.08.
The results showed that nurses who weaned patients from a ventilator did not possess adequate knowledge to successfully wean a mechanically ventilated patient. The attitude of all categories of nurses, however, remained positive towards the weaning process.