Oxygen and Ventilator Treatment: Perspectives on Interprofessional Collaboration in a 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.