Effectiveness of “endotracheal suctioning protocol” in terms of knowledge and practices of nursing personnel Savita Sharma, Jyoti Sarin, Gurneet Kaur Bala Nursing and Midwifery Research Journal, Vol-10, No.2, April 2014 47 Keywords Effectiveness, Endo-tracheal Suctioning Protocol, Knowledge,Practices Introduction Mechanical ventilation is an essential, life-saving therapy for patients with critical illness and respiratory failure. Endotracheal suction is a procedure which aims to keep airways patent by mechanically removing accumulated pulmonary secretions, in 1 patients with artificial airways . All patients with an artificial airway require endotracheal (ET) suctioning to remove secretions and 2 prevent airway obstruction . Correspondence at Dr. (Mrs.) Jyoti Sarin Director-Principal, MM College of Nursing, Mullana-Ambala Abstract: Intubated patients are unable to clear secretions effectively; as glottis closure is compromised and normal mucociliary function is impaired. Therefore, all patients with an artificial airway require endotracheal suctioning to remove secretions, prevent airway obstruction and complications (Ventilator Associated Pneumonia). The study was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of endotracheal suctioning protocol in terms of knowledge and practices of nursing personnel. The structured knowledge questionnaire and an observation checklist regarding endotracheal suctioning was developed and used for data collection and the endotracheal suctioning protocol was also developed and nurses were educated as per protocol.An experimental approach was used with quasi experimental design. Pre and post-implementation data from 30 purposively selected ICU nursing personnel of Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Medical Science &Research Hospital, Mullana was collected. Subsequent reinforcements were given until >80% practice score was achieved. Findings of the study revealed that the mean post-implementation knowledge score and practice score of nursing personnel regarding endotracheal suctioning was significantly higher than the mean pre- implementation knowledge and practice score (p<0.001). Hence, the protocol was effective in enhancing the knowledge and improving the practices of nursing personnel regarding the endotracheal suctioning.