This study, drawing on the work of van Manen and based on hermeneutic phenomenological principles, sets out to lay open an ontological substance of emergency nursing-as-caring work by exploring the experiences and lived realities of eleven emergency nurses engaged in nursing practice in emergency departments within South Australia.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Sydney, 2005. / Title from title screen (viewed 19 May 2008). Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the Dept. of Family and Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing. Degree awarded 2005; thesis submitted 2004. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print form.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Georgia State University, 2008. / Typescript. Cecelia Gatson Grindel, committee chair; Anne Koci, Annette Bairan, committee members. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 61-65). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Georgia State University, 2008. / Title from file title page. Cecelia Gatson Grindel, committee chair; Anne Koci, Annette Bairan, committee members. Electronic text (144 p. : ill.) : digital, PDF file. Description based on contents viewed July 10, 2008. Includes bibliographical references (p. 82-86).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 96-100).

Thesis (Dr. P.H.)--University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, 1994. / Richard M. Grimes. (ADVISOR) Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-118).

Evidenced based practice (EBP) guidelines have been developed to reduce variation in weaning, provide quality of care and patient satisfaction. Nurse led weaning has been shown to reduce weaning time, and therefore it was important to identify whether nurses have sufficient knowledge to implement EBP regarding weaning (Hansen, Fjaelberg, Nilsen et al, 2008);(Crocker, 2002:272). Weaning protocols are associated with 25.0% reduction in the duration of mechanical ventilation time, a 78.0% reduction in weaning duration, and 10.0% reduction for length of stay in ICU (Blackwood, Alderdice, Burns et al, 2011:9). The purpose of the study was to evaluate and describe intensive care nurses’ knowledge of EBP guidelines with regard to weaning the mechanically ventilated patient. Five adult intensive care units at two tertiary public sector academic hospitals were used to conduct the study in order to determine barriers to EBP. A non-experimental, descriptive, prospective two-staged design was utilized in this two part study. In Stage I of the study, the sample size comprised six (n=6) specialist expert members selected from the ICU’s at the study site using a non-probability purposive sampling method. In Stage II of the study, the sample size comprised eighty (n=80) intensive care nurse respondents selected from the ICU’s using simple random sampling. The data collection instrument developed by the researcher comprised 40 items relevant to nursing practice derived from EBP weaning guidelines. Respondents were asked to rate all the items independently using a 4-point Likert scale. Findings indicated that intensive care nurses lack adequate knowledge on weaning the critically ill patient from the mechanical ventilator. The Dreyfuss model of skill acquisition shows that improved skill performance in nursing is based on experience as well as education, yet this study showed the opposite (Dracup & Bryan-Brown, 2004). Years of experience did not influence nurses’ knowledge level, as there was no statistical difference in these items. Differences in knowledge scores between the primary nurse and shift leaders were minimal, although significant (p<0.05), indicating that shift leaders were more knowledgeable than primary nurses.

Thesis (MCur. (Faculty of Health Sciences))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Summary in English. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (MCur. (Faculty of Health Sciences))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Summary in English. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (MCur (Nursing Science))--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Summary in English. Includes bibliographical references.