Concept analysis was performed on the behavioral concept of endotracheal suctioning (ETS), to identify the goal, to develop astandardized clinical protocol, to identify the antecedents and consequences, and to differentiate the improper use of ETS.

Walker & Avant's concept analysis was employed using clinical guidelines, books and review articles in which the procedures of ETS were written in detail and published in Pubmed within the last 20 years.

The macro-goal of ETS was to remove accumulated respiratory secretions. Three defining attributes of ETS were identified; catheter, suctioning and asepsis. Each attribute involved empirical referents, such as the size and depth of thecatheter, the suction pressure, duration and method for suctioning. The antecedents of ETS were identical to the clinical evidences for the need of ETS such as the nursing assessment data. The consequences of ETS serve as an evaluation criteria on the effectsof ETS based on the goal of ETS.

The concept analysis of ETS demonstrates an example of considering a specific nursing protocol of ETS as a behavioral concept, applying concept analysis to it to identify it's key behavioral components as defining attributes and empirical referents and then developing and applying the standard ETS protocol.