Background: Treatment interference, the disruption or self-removal of technologic devices, is a primary reason for application of physical restraints in acute and critical care settings. The processes of care surrounding treatment interference and the prevention of device disruption have not been comprehensively analyzed.
Objectives: To describe the processes used by critical care nurses to prevent treatment interference in critically ill older adults.
Methods: Participant observation field research was conducted in medical and intermediate medical intensive care units. Data were analyzed by using the constant comparative method and event analysis.
Results: Maintaining technologic devices is almost exclusively a nursing responsibility and involves the skillful assessment of patient awareness and trustworthiness and interpretation of behaviors. Critical care nurses are most protective of those devices for which accidental removal is perceived as life threatening: endotracheal tubes, arterial catheters, and central venous catheters. Nurses assess patients' cognitive status, mobility, strength, and trustworthiness, as well as device considerations such as replacement difficulty and device necessity. In addition to verbal strategies, such as explaining, nurses use distraction, deception, comfort measures, watchful family members, physical restraints, and sedation to prevent treatment interference.
Conclusion: This analysis considers the social context of the intensive care unit, including roles and the human-technology interaction. It illustrates the tremendous responsibility that nurses assume in maintaining technologic devices. Next steps in research and policy development are also considered.