Critical care nurse
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Critical care nurse · Aug 2021
Experiences of Patients Using a Fitness Tracker to Promote Ambulation Before a Heart Transplant.
Patients who have an intra-aortic balloon pump or a pulmonary artery catheter with vasoactive infusion while awaiting heart transplant have reduced mobility due to heart failure and activity restrictions. Stroke volume, respiratory capacity, and muscle strength decrease, and sleep disturbances occur. Patients require motivation to enhance ambulation. ⋯ Participants were happy to get a fitness tracker and motivated to be active and increase activity/ambulation. Patients expressed benefits from walks: better sleep, more stamina, and feeling stronger. They believed that this intervention could have potential benefit for future patients.
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Critical care nurse · Aug 2021
ReviewOral Care in Critically Ill Patients Requiring Noninvasive Ventilation: An Evidence-Based Review.
Hospital-acquired pneumonia commonly develops after 48 hours of hospitalization and can be divided into non-ventilator-acquired and ventilator-acquired pneumonia. Prevention of non-ventilator-acquired pneumonia requires a multimodal approach. Implementation of oral care bundles can reduce the incidence of ventilator-acquired pneumonia, but the literature on oral care in other populations is limited. ⋯ Oral care is a common preventive measure for non-ventilator-acquired pneumonia and may improve comfort. Adherence to oral care is lower for patients not receiving mechanical ventilation. Further research is needed to identify a standard of care for oral hygiene for patients receiving noninvasive ventilation and assess the risk of adverse events.
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Critical care nurse · Aug 2021
Review Case ReportsGuillain-Barré Syndrome After Acute Hepatitis E Infection: A Case Report and Literature Review.
Guillain-Barré syndrome precipitated by hepatitis E virus infection is rare, yet its incidence is increasing. ⋯ Nurses and clinicians should obtain a thorough history and consider hepatitis E virus infection as a precipitating factor in patients with sensory and motor disturbances consistent with Guillain-Barré syndrome. The case gives insight into the diagnostic process for Guillain-Barré syndrome and highlights the vital role of bedside nurses in evaluating and treating these patients.
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Critical care nurse · Aug 2021
Triggers and Interventions of Patients Who Require Medical Emergency Team Reviews: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Single Versus Multiple Reviews.
Medical emergency teams constitute part of the escalation protocol of early warning systems in many hospitals. The literature indicates that medical emergency teams may reduce hospital mortality and cardiac arrest. A greater understanding of pathways of patients who experience multiple medical emergency team reviews will inform clinical decision-making. ⋯ Patients requiring multiple medical emergency team reviews have higher mortality. Surgical patients have a higher risk of requiring multiple reviews. Hospitals need to include more details on surgical patients when auditing medical emergency team activation.