Critical care nurse
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Critical care nurse · Jun 2022
Implementation of a Pediatric Delirium Screening Program in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
Knowledge of and screening for delirium are important to patient care. As bedside caregivers, nurses are in a strategic position to observe changes that may indicate delirium. ⋯ Although unit-wide compliance with the screening protocol decreased without regular monitoring, it subsequently improved after the institution of reminders and reeducation of nursing staff. Nursing perceptions evolved to view screening as an important component of patient care that did not disrupt daily workflow.
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Critical care nurse · Jun 2022
Case ReportsPostoperative Nursing Care of a Deceased Donor Tracheal Transplant Recipient.
Certain airway disorders, such as tracheal stenosis, can severely affect the ability to breathe, reduce quality of life, and increase morbidity and mortality. Treatment options for long-segment tracheal stenosis include multistage tracheal replacement with biosynthetic material, autotransplantation, and allotransplantation. These interventions have not demonstrated long-term dependable results because of lack of adequate blood supply to the organ and ciliated epithelium. A new transplant program featuring single-stage long-segment tracheal transplant addresses this concern. ⋯ High-quality nursing care postoperatively in the intensive care unit is critical to safe and effective treatment of the tracheal transplant recipient and success of the graft. To effectively treat these patients, nurses need relevant education and training. This article is the first documentation of postoperative nursing care following single-stage long-segment tracheal transplant.
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Critical care nurse · Jun 2022
ReviewOral Microbes in Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia: Practice and Research Implications.
Hospital-acquired pneumonia accounts for 25% of all health care-associated infections and is classified as either ventilator-associated or non-ventilator-associated pneumonia. Hospital-acquired pneumonia most frequently results from aspiration of oropharyngeal secretions into the lungs. Although preventive measures for ventilator-associated pneumonia are well established, few preventive measures exist for the nonventilator type. ⋯ Findings reaffirm the importance of consistent oral care in hospitalized patients. In addition, practices should be different in patients receiving mechanical ventilation versus patients not receiving ventilation. Results may also provide knowledge to inform future preventive measures for pneumonia, particularly for nonventilator pneumonia.
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Critical care nurse · Jun 2022
ReviewRisk Stratification in Noninvasive Respiratory Support Failure: A Narrative Review.
The use of noninvasive respiratory support, including noninvasive ventilation and high-flow nasal cannula therapy, has increased over the years. Failure of noninvasive respiratory support, defined as the need for invasive mechanical ventilation, increases the mortality rate. ⋯ Future research opportunities include improving study design for risk stratification and implementing preventive strategies for patients requiring noninvasive respiratory support. Clinically, risk stratification can provide an opportunity to share knowledge and facilitate conversations with patients and families.
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Critical care nurse · Jun 2022
Implementing a Standardized Communication Tool in an Intensive Care Unit.
Effective communication is essential in critical care settings. Use of the SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) tool has been shown to standardize and improve communication among health care providers. ⋯ Implementation of the SBAR communication tool significantly improved general perceptions of communication in this intensive care unit.