Intensive care nurses' experiences using volatile anaesthetics in the intensive care unit: An exploratory study

Jim Harald Olsby; Alfhild Dihle; Kristin Hofsø; Simen A Steindal

doi:10.1016/j.iccn.2022.103220

Intensive care nurses' experiences using volatile anaesthetics in the intensive care unit: An exploratory study

Intensive Crit Care Nurs. 2022 Jun:70:103220. doi: 10.1016/j.iccn.2022.103220. Epub 2022 Feb 23.

Authors

Jim Harald Olsby¹, Alfhild Dihle², Kristin Hofsø³, Simen A Steindal⁴

Affiliations

¹ Lovisenberg Diaconal University College, Lovisenberggata 15B, 0456 Oslo, Norway; Department of Postoperative and Intensive Care, Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål sykehus, Postboks 4956 Nydalen, 0424 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: Olsby.j.h@gmail.com.
² Faculty of Health Science, OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: alfhild@oslomet.no.
³ Lovisenberg Diaconal University College, Lovisenberggata 15B, 0456 Oslo, Norway; Department of Research and Development, Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: kristin.hofso@ldh.no.
⁴ Lovisenberg Diaconal University College, Lovisenberggata 15B, 0456 Oslo, Norway; Faculty of Health Studies, VID Specialized University, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: simen.alexander.steindal@ldh.no.

PMID: 35216899
DOI: 10.1016/j.iccn.2022.103220

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.

Keywords: AnaConDa; ICU nurses; Qualitative study; Sedation alternative; Volatile anaesthetics.

MeSH terms

Anesthetics*
Critical Care
Critical Care Nursing* / methods
Humans
Intensive Care Units
Nurses*
Qualitative Research

Substances

Anesthetics