Critical care nurse
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Critical care nurse · Feb 1995
Cardiac arrest during pregnancy: maternal-fetal physiology and advanced cardiac life support for the obstetric patient.
Although cardiac arrest in pregnancy is rare, all members of the healthcare team who care for pregnant women should be aware of the maternal adaptations of pregnancy. Also, more women with preexisting medical conditions are attempting pregnancy. Perinatal nurses, especially those practicing in level III (high-risk) perinatal centers should be trained in dysrhythmia recognition and ACLS protocols. Rapid intervention sometimes can save two lives.
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Over the past decade, awareness of the harmful effects of postoperative pain has increased. These effects seem to be intensified in critically ill patients. Epidural analgesia has been shown to improve pulmonary function in the critically ill, including a reduction in frequency of intubation and tracheostomies and decreased length of mechanical ventilatory support. ⋯ State nurse practice acts and agency policies dictate the amount and type of involvement nurses have in caring for patients receiving epidural pain therapy. Potential life-threatening problems with epidural analgesia are rare. Many side effects can be controlled or prevented with appropriate patient selection and nursing management.