Critical care nurse
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Critical care nurse · Apr 2019
Case ReportsPercutaneous Biventricular Mechanical Heart Support in Cardiogenic Shock: A Nursing Case Report.
Only a few cases of biventricular cardiogenic shock have been treated with Impella circulatory assist devices in the United States. ⋯ This case presents an opportunity for analysis of care activities and role responsibilities of bedside nurses in caring for this patient. Discussion of this case expands the literature describing nursing activities associated with caring for patients with Impella devices.
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Critical care nurse · Apr 2019
The Three Rs for Preventing Heart Failure Readmission: Review, Reassess, and Reeducate.
Despite improvements in heart failure therapies, hospitalization readmission rates remain high. Nationally, increasing attention has been directed toward reducing readmission rates and thus identifying patients with the highest risk for readmission. This article summarizes the evidence related to decreasing readmission for patients with heart failure within 30 days after discharge, focusing on the acute setting. ⋯ Nurses must review the patient's current plan of care and adherence to it and look for clues to failure of the plan that could lead to readmission to the hospital. In addition, nurses must reassess the current plan with the patient and family to ensure that the plan continues to meet the patient's needs. Finally, nurses must continually reeducate patients about their plan of care, their plan for self-management, and strategies to prevent hospital readmission for heart failure.
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Critical care nurse · Apr 2019
Case ReportsManagement of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Obstetric Patients: Concerns for Critical Care Nurses.
Critical care nurses are faced with many challenges, and one that is particularly stressful is caring for obstetric patients. This care can become more complex when the obstetric patient requires extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. ⋯ Obstetric patients present unique challenges, and care is focused on the woman and her family. The purpose of this paper is to provide information for critical care nurses regarding care of obstetric patients who receive extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.