Dimensions of critical care nursing : DCCN
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Dimens Crit Care Nurs · Jan 1996
Case ReportsManaging terminal dyspnea: caring for the patient who refuses intubation or ventilation.
Dyspnea in a dying patient is one of the most distressing symptoms challenging a critical care nurse. A humane response to terminal dyspnea, which may result when the patient chooses to forego life-sustaining intubation and ventilation, is expected by the patient. The author presents strategies for reducing the distress of dyspnea for patients who are dying when intubation and ventilation are being withheld.
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Dimens Crit Care Nurs · Jan 1996
Case ReportsParental participation in treatment decisions for pediatric oncology ICU patients.
Ethical dilemmas involving treatment decisions are increasing in frequency as medical technology continues to provide the ability to prolong life. When the dilemmas involve treatment decisions for children, the added dimension of parental participation makes the issue even more complex. The author describes a pilot study showing the extent of documentation of parents' participation in treatment decisions for pediatric oncology ICU patients.
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Dimens Crit Care Nurs · Jan 1996
Case ReportsThermodilution: an advanced technique for measuring continuous cardiac output.
A thermodilution method of obtaining continuous cardiac outputs represents an improvement in the assessment and treatment of critically ill patients. The critical care nurse assists in placement of the pulmonary artery catheter, which includes a thermal filament for continuous readings of cardiac output, and uses the continuous cardiac output readings to make assessment decisions and trouble-shoot the equipment.