Critical care nurse
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Critical care nurse · Jun 2019
Review Comparative StudyStandard Versus Alternative Ventilator Modes: What's the Difference?
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Critical care nurse · Jun 2019
Pressure Injuries at Intensive Care Unit Admission as a Prognostic Indicator of Patient Outcomes.
Pressure injuries, also known as pressure ulcers, are a serious complication of immobility. Patients should be thoroughly examined for pressure injuries when admitted to the intensive care unit to optimize treatment. Whether community-acquired pressure injuries correlate with poor hospital outcomes among critically ill patients is understudied. ⋯ Pressure injuries present at admission to the intensive care unit are an objective, easy-to-identify finding associated with longer stays. Pressure injuries might have a modest association with higher risk of mortality.
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Critical care nurse · Jun 2019
Family Surrogate Decision-making in Chronic Critical Illness: A Qualitative Analysis.
Caring for an adult with chronic critical illness is a difficult undertaking. Family surrogates are tasked with decision-making on behalf of their loved one, particularly during acute-on-chronic illness episodes. Critical care nurses are well positioned and well qualified to facilitate this process. ⋯ Results support recent recommendations of the National Academy of Medicine that endorsed shared decision-making. Data also support development of more effective team communication and decision support strategies, particularly addressing consistency and continuity. Critical care nurses can use their expertise to positively influence these outcomes.