Critical care nurse
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Critical care nurse · Dec 2016
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyChlorhexidine-Impregnated Dressings and Prevention of Catheter-Associated Bloodstream Infections in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
Bloodstream infections related to use of catheters are associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates, prolonged hospital lengths of stay, and increased medical costs. ⋯ Use of chlorhexidine-impregnated dressings reduced rates of catheter-related bloodstream infections, contamination, colonization, and local catheter infection in a pediatric intensive care unit but was not significantly better than use of standard dressings.
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Critical care nurse · Dec 2016
Measuring Family Satisfaction With Care Delivered in the Intensive Care Unit.
In our competitive health care environment, measuring the experience of family members of patients in the intensive care unit to ensure that health care providers are meeting families' needs is critical. Surveys from Press Ganey and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are unable to capture families' satisfaction with care in this setting. ⋯ Although patients' family members reported being satisfied with their experience in the intensive care unit, there is room for improvement. Effective communication among the health care team, patients' families, and patients will be targeted for quality improvement initiatives.
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Critical care nurse · Dec 2016
Norwood Procedure for Palliation of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome: Right Ventricle to Pulmonary Artery Conduit vs Modified Blalock-Taussig Shunt.
Patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome undergo a series of operations to separate the pulmonary and systemic circulations. The first of at least 3 operations occurs in the newborn period, with a stage I palliation. ⋯ Advances in surgical techniques and intraoperative and postoperative care have helped decrease morbidity and mortality for patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome who have the stage I Norwood operation, but the patients continue to be at increased risk for hemodynamic collapse and adverse outcomes. This article discusses risk factors, surgical approach, postoperative nursing and medical management strategies, differences between and outcomes for the Norwood operation with the right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit and the Norwood operation with a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt.