Olsby JH, Dihle A, Hofsø K, Steindal SA. Intensive care nurses' experiences using volatile anaesthetics in the intensive care unit: An exploratory study.
Intensive Crit Care Nurs 2022;
70:103220. [PMID:
35216899 DOI:
10.1016/j.iccn.2022.103220]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To explore the experiences intensive care nurses have with volatile anaesthetics in the intensive care unit.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND DESIGN
A qualitative exploratory and descriptive design was used. Data were collected in 2019 from individual interviews with nine intensive care nurses, who were recruited using purposive sampling. Data were analysed using systematic text condensation.
SETTING
The study was undertaken in two general intensive care units from different university hospitals in Norway where volatile anaesthetics were utilised.
FINDINGS
Three categories emerged from the data analysis: experiencing the benefits of volatile anaesthetics; coping with unfamiliarity in handling volatile anaesthetics; and meeting challenges related to volatile anaesthetics in practice.
CONCLUSION
The intensive care nurses had positive experiences related to administering volatile anaesthetics in the intensive care unit and responded positively to the prospect of using it more often. Because volatile anaesthetics were rarely used in their units, the participants felt uncertain regarding its use due to unfamiliarity. Collegial support and guidelines were perceived as pivotal in helping them cope with this uncertainty. The participants also experienced several challenges in using volatile anaesthetics in the intensive care unit, with ambient pollution being regarded as the main challenge.
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