TABLE 2.

Themes and Subthemes Identified from Subject Matter Nursing Expert Interviews

Themes	Subthemes
Patient assessment	Respiratory status
	Skin color, diaphoresis
	Ability to swallow, ability to protect airway with presence of gag reflex
	Mental status
	Position in bed
	Arterial blood gas, end tidal carbon dioxide
	Determine candidacy for NIV
Novice nurses benefit from clinical support	Recognize early signs of deteriorating condition
	Appreciate clinical significance of different types of breath sounds or breathing patterns
	Identifying patient anxiety in tolerating mask and NIV
	Knowing when to “push back”
	Knowing when to utilize real-time clinical support and rapid response team nurse colleagues
Team communication	Involve nurses, respiratory therapists and physicians in decision-making
	Involve patient in decision-making
	Involve palliative care and/or geriatric consultants in decision-making
Nursing education	Opportunities for real-time bedside training and simulation
	Availability of protocols for NIV delivery