ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The number of interhospital transports with intubated patients or where intubation readiness is required is increasing in Sweden and globally. Specialist nurses are often responsible for these transports, which involve numerous risks for critically ill patients. AIM: The aim of this study was to describe nurse anaesthetists' and intensive care nurses' strategies for safe interhospital transports with intubated patients or where intubation readiness is required. METHOD: A qualitative study was conducted using the critical incident technique. During March and April 2020, 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted with nurse anaesthetists and intensive care nurses. Data were analysed according to the critical incident technique, and a total of 197 critical incidents were identified. The analysis revealed five final strategies for safe interhospital transport. RESULTS: Participants described the importance of ensuring clear and adequate information transfers between caregivers to obtain vital patient information that enables the nurse in charge to identify risks and problems in advance and create an action plan. Stabilising and optimising the patient's condition before departure and preparing drugs and equipment were other strategies described by the participants, as well as requesting assistance or support if questions or complications arose during transport. CONCLUSION: Transports with intubated patients or where intubation readiness is required are complex and require systematic patient-safety work to ensure that strategies for increasing patient safety and decreasing risks are visible to the nurses in charge, that they are applied, and that they are, indeed, effective.
