Abstract
M.Cur.
Nursing practitioners working in the critical care unit are responsible for quality nursing care of the patient on pressure-controlled ventilation. Pressure-controlled ventilation is a high-risk interaction, with potential life-threatening complications, for example barotrauma.There are, however, in the South-African context no standards for pressure-controlled ventilation with which quality nursing of the patient on pressure-controlled ventilation can be evaluated. The following question is then asked in this study:
Which standards should be formulated for the adult patient on pressure-controlled ventilation incritical care units? The goal of this study is then to formulate standards for the adult patient on pressure-controlled ventilation in critical care units. An explorative, descriptive and modified standard-generating research design is followed in this study. The research methodology as suggested by Muller (1998a:606-609; 1998b:636-637) for standard development during the quality improvement process is used in this study. Standard formulation consists out of three phases, namely a development phase, a quantifying-/ validation phase and a testing phase. During the development phase of this study, a literature study is conducted after which concept standards for the adult patient on pressure-controlled ventilation in critical care units are formulated. During the validation phase of this study, the concept standards are validated by means of a consensus debate session with clinical domain experts. Seventeen standards in total were formulated. Standard one to fifteen are structure standards. These standards address the ethico-legal, philosophical and management framework according to which
the nurse practitioner functions during the nursing of the adult patient on pressure controlled ventilation in critical care units. It also includes the fascilitating context, as well as facilities, equipment, stock and medication, procedures and protocols and aspect of personnel development necessary to nurse the patient on pressure-controlled ventilation. Lastly in this group of standards the knowledge and skills which the critical care nurse requires for nursing the patient on pressurecontrolled ventilation are described.
Standard sixteen is the process standard for nursing the patient on pressure-controlled ventilation.This standard is described as one comprehensive standard to facilitate easy use in practice and to address the nursing process holistically. Standard seventeen can be described as the outcome standard for the nursing of the adult patient on pressure-controlled ventilation and describes the expected aspects of quality improvement.