Resource Location: https://qi.ipro.org/managing-acute-respiratory-failure-small-rural-cah/
This material was developed by IPRO HQIC.
Due to medical-surgical nurses’ limited exposure to managing acute respiratory failure, nurses in rural and critical access hospitals do not always have a comfort level with non-invasive ventilation (NIV) equipment and/or High-Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC). Managing this situation on medical-surgical floors within these smaller hospitals created a void, especially without access to specialty staff who have advanced clinical respiratory experience, lack of critical care beds, and/or the lack of respiratory therapy resources. This is especially true in rural and critical access hospitals, possibly exacerbating adverse events and potentially increasing health disparities (due to access of specialty care issues). This electronic tool provides digestible information to support the front-line in CPAP, BiPAP, and HFNC management.