Effect of a nursing-implemented sedation protocol on weaning outcome.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the implementation of a nursing-driven protocol of sedation on duration of intubation.

Design: Before-and-after prospective study.

Setting: 18-bed medical-surgical intensive care unit.

Does sedation practice delay time to extubation?

Unlabelled: Criteria for performing a spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) have not been evaluated in controlled trials. An important component of these criteria is neurological status. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether physicians take mental status into consideration before performing an SBT in mechanically ventilated patients.