The utility and futility of non-invasive ventilation in non-designated areas: can critical care outreach nurses influence practice?

Objective: To explore the practice of delivering non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in non-designated areas within a large university teaching hospital by critical care outreach nurses.

Methods: Local audit was prospectively conducted over a five-month period of all patients commenced on NIV in non-designated areas. The audit was repeated a year later and again four years later.