Publication
The lived experiences of paediatric intensive care unit nurses during the initiation of long-term ventilation
Masterson K, Connolly M, Brenner M · Australian Critical Care · 2026
Background There is an increasing population of children who are surviving with chronic critical illnesses, some of whom are dependent on technology to sustain life. Long-term ventilation (LTV) is frequently initiated in the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) due to acute or acute-on-chronic events. Most published literature exploring the initiation of LTV focuses on physicians’ perspectives. Nurses with a constant presence at the bedside are well positioned to offer a unique insight into the initiation of LTV in a PICU and the care needs of the child and family at this time in care delivery. Research into nursing perspectives in the PICU is limited, most frequently focused on caring for children at the end of life. Little is known about the voice of the nurse when life-changing decisions are made about children’s care in the PICU such as the initiation of LTV. Aim The aim of this study was to explore the nursing voice at the point of initiation of LTV for a child in a PICU. Method This study used hermeneutic phenomenology, guided by van Manen, to understand the meaning nurses give to their voices during the initiation of LTV in a PICU. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 13 nurses in Australia who had experience caring for a child during the initiation of LTV. Findings The analysis identified three themes: “Initiating Long-term Ventilation”, “Complexity of Being a PICU Nurse”, and “Information Provision”. The findings from this study offer further insights into the voice of the nurse in both the formal setting in meetings and at the bedside during the initiation of LTV. They highlighted that while formal meetings were the predominant setting for discussions and information provision, they were intrinsically linked to care and discussions at the bedside. Conclusion Although there is an increasing incidence of LTV, little remains known about the specific role of the voice of the nurse during this time. The findings expanded on previous research, highlighting that while nurses are silent, they are not silenced. These findings suggest platforms, including prehuddles, for nurses to have increased involvement in discussions and decision-making.
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