DOI

10.21007/con.dnp.2023.0070

Faculty Advisor

Tracy McClinton, DNP, APRN, AGACNP-BC, EBP-C

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

2023

Disciplines

Investigative Techniques | Medicine and Health Sciences | Nursing

Abstract

Purpose/Background

Ventilator-acquired pneumonia (VAP) is a preventable hospital-acquired infection with a high mortality rate. Ventilator care bundles (VCB) are implemented to decrease the risk of infection while patients are mechanically ventilated. The aim of this scoping review was to assess how adult patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) requiring mechanical ventilation and the incidence of VAP are affected by staff’s compliance to a VCB.

Methods

From August of 2022 to November 2022, literature research was done among databases such as PubMed, MEDLINE, and CINAHL. The systematic search in PubMed yielded 55 results with the headings of “(ventilator) AND (care bundle) AND (pneumonia)”. 43 articles were excluded due the inclusion of non-adult patients. From the 12 articles remaining, only 3 from PubMed were relevant. 7 articles from similar searches were also included. The final 10 articles went through rapid critical appraisal and the primary outcomes were synthesized in a data table.

Results

2 systematic reviews, 1 controlled trial without randomization, 6 case-control studies, and 1 quality improvement project were included. Each article provided evidence supporting staff compliance with a VCB improved patient outcomes. These outcomes include decreased incidence of VAP, hospital and ICU length of stay, and patient mortality.

Implications for Nursing Practice

A VCB is a feasible protocol to improve patient outcomes. Prioritization of these interventions decreases incidence rates of VAP. All staff caring for ventilated patients should be educated on the success of VCBs to ensure appropriate compliance and improve patient outcomes.

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