Dimensions of critical care nursing : DCCN
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Dimens Crit Care Nurs · Sep 2011
Multicenter StudyDevelopment of a modified early warning score using the electronic medical record.
The purpose of early warning scores is to help all nurses detect early deterioration in order to rescue patients from unexpected events, which arise from complications during the course of illness and recovery. This article describes one institution's work in developing a modified early warning score in conjunction with an electronic medical record to facilitate scoring and monitoring, in order to improve patient safety.
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Dimens Crit Care Nurs · Sep 2011
Improving severe sepsis outcomes: cost and time to first antibiotic dose.
This study was conducted to determine the effect of an empiric antimicrobial guide on clinical and economic outcomes related to severe sepsis. As all critical care nurses know, severe sepsis is often life-threatening. The study found that an empiric antimicrobial guide specific for severe sepsis was associated with a reduced length of stay, a significantly earlier time to first dose antibiotic, and significantly lower total and variable hospital costs.
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Dimens Crit Care Nurs · Sep 2011
Fostering cultural and interdisciplinary awareness with "low-tech" simulation in a fundamentals nursing course to prepare student nurses for critical care clinical rotations.
This article focuses on the advancement of nursing education and practice through implementing "low-tech" simulation in a fundamentals nursing course to foster an awareness of scope of practice and interdisciplinary teamwork and collaboration to prepare student nurses for their critical care clinical experience. The integration of low-tech simulation during the students' first clinical course at 2 different times during the semester was utilized to accomplish this awareness. This article was added to the scant published articles that highlight the benefits of low-tech simulation in a fundamentals of nursing course.
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Dimens Crit Care Nurs · Sep 2011
The need for increased access to pediatric hospice and palliative care.
Pediatric hospice and palliative care continue to be an underutilized model of care. There is much confusion over the differences between hospice and palliative care. Nurses and physicians continue to need specialized training regarding end-of-life care and the pediatric population. ⋯ Many barriers exist that prevent its use among medical professionals. This article discusses some of these barriers and strategies to reduce them. Recent changes in health care law will allow both curative and hospice care to be provided at the same time.