Objective To explore the efficacy of risk prediction-oriented early nursing intervention in preventing unplanned extubation（UEX） in patients with tracheal intubation in intensive care unit（ICU）. Methods One hundred and twenty ICU tracheal intubation patients admitted to a hospital in Zhengzhou from July 2018 to May 2020 were selected and divided into a control group（55 cases） and a study group（65 cases） using a random number table. Patients in the control group were given conventional care

and patients in the study group received risk prediction-oriented early nursing intervention

both for 1 consecutive month. Patients in the two groups were compared in terms of Hamilton anxiety rating scale（HAMA）

self-rating depression scale（SDS） and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index（PSQI） scores before and after the intervention. The patients’ treatment compliance

UEX incidence and nursing satisfaction were also compared. Results The treatment compliance rate of patients in the study group was 92.31%（60/65）

which was higher than that of the control group at 72.73%（40/55）

and the difference was statistically significant（χ~2=8.224

P=0.004）. the HAMA and SDS scores of patients in the 2 groups after the intervention were lower than those before the intervention

and the study group had lower scores than the control group

with statistically significant differences（P<0.05）. After the intervention

the sleeping efficiency

sleep quality and sleep duration scores in PSQI were lower than those before the intervention in both groups and lower in the study group than in the control group

with statistically significant differences（P <0.05）.The incidence of UEX in the observation group was 1.54%（1/65）

which was lower than that of 12.73%（7/55） in the control group

and the difference was statistically significant（χ~2=4.331

P=0.037）. The satisfaction rate with the intervention of family members of patients in the study group was 96.92%（63/65）

higher than that of 76.36%（42/55） in the control group

and the difference was statistically significant（χ~2=11.513

P=0.001）. Conclusion Applying risk prediction-orientated early nursing intervention in the care of ICU tracheal intubation patients can improve patients’ compliance with treatment

relieve bad mood

improve sleep quality

thus helping to reduce the risk of UEX and improve family members’ satisfaction with care.