Dimensions of critical care nursing : DCCN
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Dimens Crit Care Nurs · Mar 1997
Comparative Study Clinical TrialCorrelation of pulse oximetry and co-oximetry.
Pulse oximetry is an important advancement in noninvasive monitoring and assessment of arterial blood oxygenation. The purpose of this study was to assess the correlation of arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) and pulse oximetry (SpO2) in critically ill patients using the ear and finger probes. Arterial oxygen saturation was measured simultaneously by pulse oximetry with a finger and ear probe and an arterial blood gas sample. Results indicated that SpO2 does trend SaO2 but it appears that SpO2 measured by the finger probe is more closely correlated to SaO2 than SpO2 measured with an ear probe in this study sample.
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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.
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Dimens Crit Care Nurs · Nov 1996
ReviewReversal agents to counteract muscle relaxation: nursing considerations.
Advances in pharmacology and technology over the last decade have fostered expanded use of muscle relaxants in critical care units and emergency departments. The neuromuscular blockade facilitated by these agents may be reversed pharmacologically, or may be spontaneously reversed endogenously. To ensure appropriate patient management, the critical care nurse, clinical nurse specialist, and acute care nurse practitioner must have a comprehensive understanding of the pathophysiology of neuromuscular blockade and reversal, the medications involved in this process, and the critical patient assessment and management skills necessary to assure a positive patient outcome.
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Dimens Crit Care Nurs · Jul 1996
Review Case ReportsAggressive weaning in cardiac surgical patients.
Nursing management of cardiac surgical patients has changed dramatically over the last several years. The need for cost-effective care with quality patient outcomes has forced critical care nurses to re-evaluate the standard of practice for postoperative cardiac patients. ⋯ In the fast-track weaning protocol, the nurses were given more authority to make critical decisions during the weaning process. This article describes the transition from the traditional time-based weaning system to the fast-track system where individual weaning progress is monitored by the critical care nurses.