<![CDATA[Background: Ventilator weaning is a critical stage in the ICU that requires not only technical competence but also communication skills, psychosocial support, and family involvement. This complexity demands nursing interventions that are comprehensive and grounded in the real experiences of patients and nurses.Objective: This study aimed to explore the experiences of ICU nurses during the ventilator weaning process, an initial stage in developing a critical care nursing intervention model, using the Q-methodology approach.Methods: This phase employed a qualitative design, involving in-depth interviews with 10 participants in the ICU. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify the main themes. The qualitative findings were then used to construct the concourse and Q-statements, which will be sorted through Q-sort and factor analysis in the subsequent stage.Results: Seven main themes emerged from the analysis: (1) comprehensive nursing care, (2) therapeutic communication, (3) patient comfort, (4) family support, (5) patients’ psychological experiences, (6) nurses’ role in ventilator weaning, and (7) barriers in practice. The results of the exploration of 10 ICU nurse participants revealed seven major themes related to nurses' experiences in caring for patients in the ICU, namely: 1) Comprehensive nursing care; 2) Therapeutic communication; 3) Patient comfort; 4) The role of family support; 5) The patient's psychological experience; 6) The role of nurses in ventilator weaning; 7) Obstacles and challenges. From these themes, 40 Q-statements were developed to reflect the perceptions, expectations, and experiences of participants. The findings highlight that technical interventions accompanied by empathy, therapeutic communication, and family involvement contribute significantly to the success of weaning and to patient comfort.Conclusion: qualitative exploratory phase emphasizes that the role of nurses in ventilator weaning is multidimensional, encompassing technical, communicative, psychosocial, and spiritual aspects.Recommendation: The findings serve as a foundation for the Q-sort and factor analysis stage using Q-methodology, with the aim of formulating a critical care nursing intervention model that is more comprehensive, humanistic, and experience-based, and which can be implemented in ICUs across Indonesia.Keywords: ventilator weaning, ICU, nurses, therapeutic communication, Q-methodology]]>
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