Dimensions of critical care nursing : DCCN
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Dimens Crit Care Nurs · Jan 1998
Comparative StudyExperiences of critical care nurses in telephone triage positions.
Critical care nurses have valuable experience making critical judgments, using protocols, and working autonomously. These and other skills make critical care nurses good candidates for the new nursing positions in telephone triage being generated as managed-care systems expand. This investigator describes the experiences of critical care and medical/surgical nurses who make the transition to telephone triage nurse roles.
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Various strategies have been tested in attempts to improve gas exchange in patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). However, it appears that the simple non-invasive act of prone positioning of the critically ill ARDS patient may improve gas exchange while preventing potential complications of high positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP), volutrauma, and oxygen toxicity.
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Dimens Crit Care Nurs · Jul 1997
ReviewIntegrating the acute care nurse practitioner into clinical practice: strategies for success.
As the role of the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) gains more recognition, ACNPs as well as prospective employers are eager to incorporate the position into a practice setting. Because the role is in its infancy, there has been limited experience from which to draw on to provide guidance in ACNP role implementation within a practice, either private or institutional. This article will provide foundational information and strategies on how to integrate the ACNP role into a practice setting. These strategies will be useful to not only the ACNP, but also nurse administrators, case managers, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse educators in acute and critical care who are responsible for seeking innovative ways to maintain seamless quality and cost-effective patient care.
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With the release of intracoronary artery stents, the role of the critical care nurse is vital in decreasing complications in the stented patient as well as optimizing patient outcomes. The importance of understanding and adhering to anticoagulation and activity protocols is a must for successful patient management.
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Critical care nurses frequently care for patients receiving propofol infusions for sedation and control of stress responses. A previous article described the pharmacodynamics of propofol; this article focuses on interventions to improve outcomes in these patients.