Dimensions of critical care nursing : DCCN
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Dimens Crit Care Nurs · May 1991
Case ReportsMyocardial contusion. Using the index of suspicion for assessing blunt chest trauma.
The body of literature devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of the patient with myocardial contusion (MC) frequently references the "index of suspicion" to qualify those patients at risk for cardiac embarrassment. Absent from this literature, however, is discussion of the importance of diligent nursing assessment and monitoring of these patients. This article shows the relevance of the index of suspicion to the nursing assessment of patients suspected of myocardial injury from blunt chest trauma.
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Dimens Crit Care Nurs · Mar 1991
Case ReportsEnsuring a safe ICU stay for your confused elderly patient.
When elderly patients who are admitted to a Coronary Care Unit become confused, they not only become nursing management problems, they are also at increased risk of further injury and even death. Critical care nurses who are knowledgeable regarding assessing, preventing, and treating confusion can prevent complications for these vulnerable patients.
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Many legal implications related to standards of care exist for the critical care nurse. This article tells how care standards are derived and used in the legal system, describes important legal concepts, and gives samples of actual court testimony by nurses about endotracheal tube cuff care.
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The use of ventricular assist devices (VADs) is becoming more common in cardiac surgery centers as the indications for application of these devices are expanding. Nurses caring for cardiovascular patients need to become familiar with the current clinical criteria used in VAD application. This author has developed an algorithm that is helpful in teaching VAD nursing care and evaluating cases in practice.