Further inquiry of the patient's experience with mechanical ventilation, the use of a ventilation sedation management protocol, and the evaluation of effective communication tools such as the use of bedside reporting or patient communication boards is warranted.

I n 2001, the Institute of Medicine challenged all health care professionals to decrease variation in practice through adoption of practice interventions based on best evidence to improve patients' outcomes.1 Current reviews of clinical practice suggest that only 10% to 15% of clinicians consistently implement evidence-based care 2 and indicate that it may take up to 2 decades for original research to be put into routine clinical practice.3 It is well established that evidence-based practice (EBP) is associated with higher quality care and better outcomes for patients than care that is steeped in tradition. 4 Yet at times, clinicians continue to practice on the basis of tradition.