TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring the relationship between nursing protocols and nursing practice in an irish intensive care unit
AU - Flynn, Angela V.
AU - Sinclair, Marlene
PY - 2005/1/1
Y1 - 2005/1/1
N2 - Nursing practice no longer relies on tradition or ritual; instead, it is based on research and empirical evidence. The emphasis on evidence-based nursing, as well as standardization of nursing practice, has resulted in the production of policies, protocols and guidelines aimed at directing numerous aspects of nursing care. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between these documents and actual nursing practice. To this end, this descriptive study employed a case study approach to examine the experiences of nurses in an Irish intensive care unit with a protocol on endotracheal tube suctioning. Focus group interviews of 17 nurses in six focus groups provided a significant insight into the experiences of these nurses in relation to policies, protocols and guidelines. Analysis of the data afforded some highly relevant findings, including the fact that nurses adapt clinical protocols as they see fit, thus demonstrating the importance that they place on their own professional judgement and autonomy.
AB - Nursing practice no longer relies on tradition or ritual; instead, it is based on research and empirical evidence. The emphasis on evidence-based nursing, as well as standardization of nursing practice, has resulted in the production of policies, protocols and guidelines aimed at directing numerous aspects of nursing care. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between these documents and actual nursing practice. To this end, this descriptive study employed a case study approach to examine the experiences of nurses in an Irish intensive care unit with a protocol on endotracheal tube suctioning. Focus group interviews of 17 nurses in six focus groups provided a significant insight into the experiences of these nurses in relation to policies, protocols and guidelines. Analysis of the data afforded some highly relevant findings, including the fact that nurses adapt clinical protocols as they see fit, thus demonstrating the importance that they place on their own professional judgement and autonomy.
KW - Clinical protocols
KW - Critical care
KW - Endotracheal tube suctioning
KW - Professional autonomy.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=24944525066&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1440-172X.2005.00517.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1440-172X.2005.00517.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 2005152229
AN - SCOPUS:24944525066
SN - 1322-7114
VL - 11
SP - 142
EP - 148
JO - International Journal of Nursing Practice
JF - International Journal of Nursing Practice
IS - 4
ER -