Enhancing patient safety: factors influencing critical care nurses’ intravenous sedation practices in mechanically ventilated patients

Patient safety is a major priority in intensive care units (ICUs), particularly among mechanically ventilated patients receiving intravenous sedation. Although sedative agents are essential for maintaining comfort and ventilator synchrony, inappropriate sedation practices may contribute to adverse clinical outcomes. Understanding the factors influencing nurses’ sedation practices is therefore essential to promote safe and effective patient care. This study aimed to explore the factors influencing critical care nurses’ intravenous sedation practices and examine their relationship with patient safety outcomes. A cross-sectional descriptive exploratory study was conducted among 105 nurses working in critical care units. Participants were recruited using a consecutive sampling technique and were directly involved in caring for mechanically ventilated patients receiving intravenous sedation. Data were collected using the Nurses’ Profile Questionnaire and the Nurse Sedation Practices Scale (NSPS). Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were performed to identify predictors of nurses’ sedation practices. Statistical significance was considered at p < 0.05. Sedation orders and goals achieved the highest mean score (81.5%), followed by sedation practices (74.2%) and attitudes toward sedation (72.4%). Subjective norms showed moderate scores (67.6%), while perceived behavioral control demonstrated lower scores (60.1%). Intention to sedate recorded the lowest score (41.1%), suggesting a preference for individualized sedation approaches. Multiple regression analysis identified subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intention to sedate as significant predictors of nurses’ sedation practices. Subjective norms were the strongest predictor (B = 0.328, p < 0.001), followed by perceived behavioral control (B = 0.210, p = 0.002). Intention to sedate showed a significant negative association with sedation practices (B = −0.139, p = 0.010). Improving sedation practices among critical care nurses requires strengthening perceived behavioral control and promoting patient-centered sedation approaches to enhance patient safety outcomes in mechanically ventilated patients.