Dimensions of critical care nursing : DCCN
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Dimens Crit Care Nurs · Jan 1996
Case ReportsThermodilution: an advanced technique for measuring continuous cardiac output.
A thermodilution method of obtaining continuous cardiac outputs represents an improvement in the assessment and treatment of critically ill patients. The critical care nurse assists in placement of the pulmonary artery catheter, which includes a thermal filament for continuous readings of cardiac output, and uses the continuous cardiac output readings to make assessment decisions and trouble-shoot the equipment.
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Dimens Crit Care Nurs · Nov 1995
ReviewMusic therapy: a nursing intervention for the control of pain and anxiety in the ICU: a review of the research literature.
Critical care patients experience both pain and anxiety related to their acute illness or injury and some painful treatments. Research on music therapy has shown that it can decrease pain and anxiety in critical care patients. This author suggests practice changes based on the body of research, which investigated the use of music.
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Dimens Crit Care Nurs · Nov 1995
Case ReportsPeripheral electrical stimulation: titrating neuromuscular blocking agent levels.
Objective monitoring of the response to neuromuscular blocking agents is essential to ensure the patient receives the maximum benefit from the drug without harm. Peripheral nerve stimulation using a train-of-four mode of four quick pulses is an intervention the critical care nurse uses at the bedside to monitor the level of neuromuscular blockage for each patient. The nurse can use this objective evaluation and a dosage protocol to titrate effective levels of neuromuscular blocking agents for ventilated patients.
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Maximizing healing in the ICU environment requires active promotion of sleep as a nursing intervention. Changing practice requires a two-pronged approach: developing an expanded knowledge base related to the physiological effects of sleep and especially healing, and minimizing the impact of the traditional ICU system on sleep deprivation.
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This article presents an interesting case where nurses touched a family member to escort her out of the ICU against her wishes. In the case analysis, the nurse attorney author reviews the ethical and legal issues in this case.