Critical care nurse
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Critical care nurse · Apr 2022
Implementation of a Nurse-Driven Spontaneous Awakening Trial Protocol in a Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.
In patients receiving mechanical ventilation, spontaneous awakening trials reduce morbidity and mortality when paired with spontaneous breathing trials. However, spontaneous awakening trials are not performed every day they are indicated and little is known about spontaneous awakening trial protocol use in cardiac intensive care units. ⋯ Spontaneous awakening trial protocol implementation led to a higher trial completion rate and a shorter duration of continuous sedative infusion. Larger studies are needed to assess the impact of protocolized spontaneous awakening trials on cardiac intensive care unit patient outcomes.
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Critical care nurse · Apr 2022
Effects of an Electronic Health Record Tool on Team Communication and Patient Mobility: A 2-Year Follow-up Study.
Intensive care unit early mobility programs improve patients' functional status and outcomes. An electronic health record-based communication tool improved interprofessional communication within an early mobility program. Long-term sustainability of this communication tool has not been evaluated. ⋯ Nonsignificant changes in patient outcomes may indicate sustainment of the effect of the communication tool's original implementation. Employing appropriate sustainment techniques is essential to maintain practice change. The electronic health record-based communication tool can improve interprofessional communication within an intensive care unit early mobility program, improving patient outcomes and staff teamwork.
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Critical care nurse · Apr 2022
Reducing Ventilator-Associated Events: A Quality Improvement Project.
Mechanical ventilation is lifesaving therapy in intensive care units but can increase patients' risk for ventilator-associated events. These events are associated with longer intensive care unit and hospital stays, more ventilator days, and increased mortality rates. ⋯ The creation and implementation of clear, specific communication and processes for successfully managing patients receiving mechanical ventilation decreased the rate of ventilator-associated events.
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Critical care nurse · Feb 2022
A Nurse-Led Voiding Algorithm for Managing Urinary Retention After General Thoracic Surgery.
Untreated postoperative urinary retention (POUR) leads to bladder overdistension. Treatment of POUR involves urinary catheterization, which predisposes patients to catheter-associated urinary tract infections. The hospital's rate of POUR after lobectomy was 21%, exceeding the Society of Thoracic Surgeons' benchmark of 6.4%. Nurses observed that more patients were being catheterized after implementation of a newly revised urinary catheter protocol. ⋯ The use of this nurse-led voiding algorithm effectively reduced and sustained rates of POUR.