Background: Arterial puncture is a common procedure performed for unconscious
patients in intensive care units to assess their respiratory conditions. It is usually
associated with pain resulting in significant physiological changes that can affect patients'
recovery and progression. Pain killers are the first choice for controlling pain in intensive
care units but medications themselves have many adverse physiological effects on the body.
Non-pharmacological pain management strategies have been advocated to control pain
and avoid the side effects of medications. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effect of
the cold application onunconscious patients' physiological parameters during arterial
puncture. Method: A quasi-experimental research design was utilized to conduct this study
among 86 unconscious patientsin the surgical intensive care unit of the Critical Care and
Convalescence Hospital at Mansoura University in Egypt. One tool was used to collect
data for this study; unconscious patients'physiological parameters assessment tool.
Results: A statistically significant improvement was noted in the participants' heart rate,
respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation post-implementation of the cold application (p < br />≤0.05). However, there were no significant changes in the participants' systolic or diastolic
blood pressure after the cold application. Conclusion:Cold application is an effective
method for improving unconscious patients' physiological parameters during arterial
puncture. Hence, critical care nurses can include the cold application in the routine
nursing care of arterial puncture for unconscious patients in intensive care units.