Nurse Competence and Satisfaction with Endotracheal Versus Subglottic Suctioning and Their Effectiveness on the Incidence of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Among Adult Patients

Abstract

Mechanically ventilated patient’s mortality and morbidity remain significantly higher due to Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP). This study examines nurse competence and satisfaction with endotracheal versus subglottic suctioning and evaluates their effectiveness upon VAP incidence among adult mechanically ventilated patients. By comparing clinical outcomes, nurse performance, and procedural adherence across both suctioning methods, the study included 60 mechanically ventilated adults, with 30 patients each in the two intervention groups. Data were collected using validated tools such as demographic and clinical preforms, the Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS), nurse satisfaction rating scale, and nurses’ practice checklist. Findings showed that most patients were males aged 41–50 years with predominant neurological diagnoses. Higher significance in mean score CPIS at 120 hours was in the endotracheal suctioning group compared to the subglottic group, demonstrating a reduced incidence of VAP with subglottic suctioning (p < 0.001). Clinical outcomes and nurse satisfaction also favoured subglottic suctioning. Nurses demonstrated stronger preparation, skill execution, and evaluation performance with subglottic suctioning, reflecting better adherence to evidence-based practice. The study concludes that subglottic endotracheal suctioning is more effective in preventing VAP and improving patient outcomes, highlighting the need for continued training and protocol reinforcement.