Abstract:

Objective This study evaluated ICU nurses in tertiary hospitals in Jiangsu Province on their implementation of the 2021 “Adult Invasive Mechanical Ventilation Endotracheal Suctioning Technique Standard （T/CNAS 10-2020）” issued by the Chinese Nursing Association. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a self-developed questionnaire distributed through the “Questionnaire Star” applet，employing a convenience sampling method. The survey explored four aspects of the endotracheal suctioning（ETS） process，including assessment，planning，implementation，and evaluation. Results A total of 614 ICU nurses from tertiary hospitals participated in the survey. Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis revealed several significant findings：nurses’ competency level was negatively correlated with ETS assessment（B=-0.396，P=0.001）；in the airway suctioning planning dimension，females performed better than males（P=0.023）；and the highest educational level was negatively correlated with both ETS implementation and total score（B=-1.016，P=0.005；B=-1.746，P=0.038）. Conversely，years of specialized experience was positively correlated with ETS evaluation ability（B=0.149，P=0.003）. Conclusion Gaps remain in the implementation of ICU nurses in Jiangsu Province regarding the ETS standard. It is recommended to strengthen skill reinforcement training for high-competency nurses，improve planning abilities among male nurses，and provide nurses with advanced degrees more opportunities for clinical practice to better integrate theoretical knowledge with practical application.

Key words: Intensive Care Units, Nursing Care, Standard of Care, Airway, Suction, Clinical Practice