Dimensions of critical care nursing : DCCN
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Dimens Crit Care Nurs · Jan 1997
Review Case ReportsDeveloping an Intensive Care Continuum: incorporating rehabilitation services in critical care.
The Intensive Care Continuum program offers hospitals an alternative that effectively uses critical care beds while delivering optimum quality care to those patients requiring extended acute care. This program provides an intensive level of care while integrating rehabilitation therapies into the patient's plan of care. Specific strategies for developing an Intensive Care Continuum are offered in this article.
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Dimens Crit Care Nurs · Jan 1997
Review Case ReportsLow cardiac output following cardiac surgery: critical thinking steps.
Patients often experience low cardiac output following cardiac surgery and as many as 90% of patients experience a decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and cardiac index (CI). Causes may vary from volume depletion to global myocardial dysfunction. Critical thinking skills, combined with diligent patient monitoring and a knowledge of cardiovascular physiology and pharmacology are required for prompt recognition and treatment of low cardiac output following cardiac surgery.