Table 2.
ICU-level characteristics of Pennsylvania cardiac surgery ICUs responding to survey instrument (n=43).
| Attributes | ICUs with attribute, n (%; 95% CI) |
|---|---|
| Structural Attributes | |
| ICU dedicated to cardiac surgery | 16 (37.2%; 23.0–53.3%) |
| NDNQI participation | 40 (93.0%; 80.9–98.5%) |
| Presence of protocols for: | |
| Low tidal volume ventilation for acute lung injury* (n=42) | 18 (42.9%; 27.7–59.0%) |
| Liberation from mechanical ventilation | 36 (83.7%; 69.3–93.2%) |
| Sedation management | 33 (76.7%; 61.4–88.2%) |
| Therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest | 37 (86.0%; 72.1–94.7%) |
| Checklist for central line insertion* (n=42) | 41 (97.6%; 87.4–99.9%) |
| Respiratory therapists participate in daily rounds | 26 (60.5%; 44.4–75.0%) |
| Pharmacists participate in daily rounds | 23 (53.5%; 37.7–68.8%) |
| Presence of nurse practitioners or physician assistants | 37 (86.0%; 72.1–94.7%) |
| Telemedicine access (n=41) | 12 (29.3%; 16.1–45.5%) |
| Nursing Attributes | |
| >2/3 weekday nurses with 2+ years of experience* (n=41) | 25 (61.0%; 44.5–75.8%) |
| Nurses allowed to work 16-hour shift* (n=42) | 29 (69.0%; 52.9–82.4%) |
| >2/3 weekday nurses with BSN degree* (n=41) | 11 (26.8%; 14.2–42.9%) |
| Physician Attributes | |
| Presence of daytime intensivists** (n=39) | 21 (53.8%; 37.2–69.9%) |
| Presence of attending at night* (n=42) | 25 (59.5%; 43.3–74.4%) |
| If night attending present, presence of nighttime intensivist** (n=25) | 8 (18.6%; 8.4–33.4%) |
| Hospital has teaching affiliation | 27 (62.8%; 46.7–77.0%) |
| Fellows present in cardiac ICU | 7 (16.3%, 6.8–30.7%) |
| Interns or residents present in cardiac ICU | 8 (18.6%, 8.4–33.4%) |
ICU: intensive care unit; NDNQI: National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators
*
n<43 for these attributes due to missing data
**
Presence defined as some or all of attending physicians having critical care training.