Dimensions of critical care nursing : DCCN
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Critically ill patients often are malnourished and in protein catabolism, impairing their ability to heal. A transitional feeding protocol, aimed at keeping patients adequately nourished while they move from parenteral or enteral nutrition to an oral diet, can improve outcomes for surgical and medical intensive care unit patients.
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Acute ischemic stroke, also known as brain attack, is the third-leading cause of death and the leading cause of adult disability in the United States. However, early management of this emergency can improve patient outcomes. This article reviews the types of stroke, prevention, signs and symptoms, and management. Guidelines for assessment and emergency care for patients with acute ischemic stroke also are provided.
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Dimens Crit Care Nurs · Jan 2001
ReviewShould continuous lateral rotation therapy replace manual turning?
Continuous lateral rotation therapy (CLRT) has been proposed as a replacement for standard manual turning to decrease pulmonary complications in critically ill patients. Findings on the effectiveness of CLRT in decreasing pulmonary complications are promising, but some serious gaps exist, such as when to start and end therapy. This article reviews and analyzes the research on CLRT and proposes directions for future research.