Research

The Nurse’s Role in Mechanical Ventilation Weaning
Introduction
Weaning from mechanical ventilation is an essential and universal element in the care of

critically ill intubated patients receiving mechanical ventilation. Weaning covers the entire

process of liberating the patient from mechanical support and from the endotrachael tube,

including relevant aspects of terminal care. (Boles et al 2007).

Weaning from mechanical ventilation is the role of the critical care nurses. Transferring this
role from physicians to nurses is not without challenges. The aim of this study is to how to
improve the nurse’s role in mechanical ventilation weaning, and to inherit the skills,
experience and willingness to accept the level of responsibility. Weaning in the context of
critical care can be challenging. To wean the difficult-to wean or the long-term weaning
patient requires great skills and expertise. Weaning from mechanical ventilation is not a
new problem but has now gained a higher priority in the critical care largely as a result of
the economic impact of caring for long-term weaning patients in a critical care settings.
Hence this study reveals the nurses role in mechanical ventilation weaning.

Literature Review
Search Strategy  
An extensive search of five major databases such as Medline, ProQuest, Science Direct,
CINAHL, Cochrane was utilised to identify relevant articles published from 1998 to the
present time. Search terms used include ‘critical care’ ‘decision making’ ‘nurse led weaning’
‘mechanical ventilation weaning’ ‘nursing role and weaning’ and ‘protocolised nurse led
weaning’. The total subject matter is based on the result of individual search on articles and
studies which are relevant to this article review.
Electronic Journals also provided relevant information, however, protocolised nurse led
weaning would be difficult because of the frequent turnover of medical and nursing staff
also the level of ICU...