Orthopaedic nursing
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Orthopaedic nursing · Jul 1997
ReviewImproving pain management in an acute care setting. The Crawford Long Hospital of Emory University experience.
To identify which of three pain intensity measurement scales is most appropriate for use with patients admitted to the inpatient units of the study hospital. The following questions were addressed: Is one of the scales easier for most patients? Is the choice of scales influenced by nursing unit, age, education, race, SES, diagnosis, or type of pain experienced? Do patients perceive that a rating scale helps them describe their pain more effectively? ⋯ The use of rating scales for pain assessment in adult inpatient units was viewed positively by patients. Recommendations for incorporating self-ratings of pain intensity are set forth. Involving both patients and providers in the process is essential to improving both our processes and the outcomes achieved.
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Networking is a critical component for any nurse's success in today's turbulent times. Traditionally seen as a skill set reserved for nurse executives, proficient networking abilities must now be developed by nurses at all levels. Cultivating a diverse network of people and being able to use it wisely will make a difference for many nurses in their careers. Once a luxury for augmenting one's professional development, networking has become a required component for successfully managing the rapidly changing health care environment nurses face every day.
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Orthopaedic nursing · Jan 1997
ReviewThe use of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of lumbar disc disease.
Low back pain is a common malady, affecting up to 80% of adults at some time. Our diagnostic capabilities have been markedly improved with the introduction and evolution of magnetic resonance imaging. MRI is an accurate modality in the diagnosis of disc herniation, as well as recurrent disc herniation, degenerative disc disease, and other abnormalities that may present as back pain.
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Chronic, nonmalignant pain differs from acute pain and cancer pain and can have a significant impact on people's lives. Many therapeutic modalities have been attempted for relief of this pain with varying degrees of success. ⋯ Nurses play an active role in caring for patients receiving SCS through patient education, psychologic support, and programming the spinal cord stimulator. Because of the active role nurses take in pain management, a knowledge of pain transmission and the techniques and efficacy of spinal cord stimulation is important.
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Our society supports the right of its members to be self-determining and to make decisions based on their personal values and beliefs. However, what happens when a person lacks the capacity to make decisions? The author identifies criteria for determining decision-making capacity and discusses the surrogate decision maker, the best interests standard, and the substituted judgment standard. Nursing implications focusing on treating the patient with dignity and respect and protecting the patient's rights are discussed.