Oxygen and Ventilator Treatment: Perspectives on Interprofessional Collaboration in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Authors

  • Marianne Trygg Solberg 1 Lovisenberg Deaconal University College, Oslo, Norway 2 Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Nedre Ullevål 9, Stjerneblokka 0850 Oslo, Norway
  • Thor Willy Ruud Hansen 3 Department of Neonatal Intensive Care, Women’s and Children’s Division, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway 4 Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
  • Ida Torunn Bjørk 2 Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Nedre Ullevål 9, Stjerneblokka 0850 Oslo, Norway

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22230/jripe.2014v4n1a172

Keywords:

Quality of care, Collaboration, Oxygen treatment, Mechanical ventilation, Neonatal intensive care unit

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to explore perspectives on the collaboration between physicians and nurses managing oxygen and ventilator treatment of sick infants in a Norwegian neonatal intensive care unit.

Methods and Findings: We performed a qualitative study using focus groups. We found that interprofessional collaboration concerning newborns on mechanical ventilation lacked co-ordination and was unsystematic. This led to inadequate utilization of the medical and clinical competency of the nursing staff. Nurses and physicians approached decision-making differently, and there was limited flexibility and dynamics in the allocation of responsibility between the professionals.

Conclusion: Findings from this study indicate that nurses and physicians have the opportunity to improve the quality of care by developing high-quality communication, formulating plans together, and improving the co-ordination of the ventilator treatment. Further studies should develop and test interventions based on the professionals’ perception of relevant co-ordination strategies to improve mechanical ventilation and oxygen treatment to premature and sick newborn infants.

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Published

2014-06-25

Issue

Section

Articles: Empirical Research