RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Evaluation of Respiratory Therapist Extender Comfort With Mechanical Ventilation During COVID-19 Pandemic
JF Respiratory Care
FD American Association for Respiratory Care
SP 199
OP 204
DO 10.4187/respcare.08459
VO 66
IS 2
A1 Karsten J Roberts
A1 Bridgette Johnson
A1 Heather M Morgan
A1 Jody M Vrontisis
A1 Katie M Young
A1 Edward Czerpak
A1 Barry D Fuchs
A1 Margie Pierce
YR 2021
UL http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/66/2/199.abstract
AB BACKGROUND: Staffing strategies used to meet the needs of respiratory care departments during the COVID-19 pandemic included the deployment of respiratory therapist extenders. The purpose of this study was to evaluate respiratory therapist extenders’ comfort level with critical care ventilators while caring for patients with COVID-19. To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the deployment of certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) in a critical care setting.METHODS: A qualitative survey method was used to assess CRNA experience with critical care ventilators. Prior to deployment in the ICU, CRNAs were trained by clinical lead respiratory therapists. Education included respiratory clinical practices and ventilator management. Sixty-minute sessions were held with demonstration stations set up in ICUs for hands-on experience.RESULTS: Fifty-six CRNAs responded to our survey (63%). A mean ± SD of 9.48 ± 12.27 h was spent training prior to deployment in the ICU. CRNAs were at the bedside a mean ± SD of 73.0 ± 40.6 h during the pandemic. While CRNA comfort level with critical care ventilators increased significantly (P < .001) from the beginning to the end of their work experience, no statistically significant differences were found between CRNA comfort based on years of experience. Differences in comfort level were not found after training (chi-squared test 23.82, P = .09) or after ICU experience was completed (chi-squared test = 15.99, P = .45). Similarly, mean comfort level did not increase based on the number of hours spent working in the ICU (chi-squared test = 13.67, P = .55).CONCLUSIONS: Comfort level with mechanical ventilation increased for CRNAs working alongside respiratory therapists during the COVID-19 pandemic.