The Journal of cardiovascular nursing
-
This article explores the existing literature and discusses the benefits and disadvantages of witnessed resuscitation for health professionals, relatives, and patients themselves. Keywords "witnessed resuscitation," "patient perspective," "health professionals," and "resuscitation room" were entered into MEDLINE, Medscape, and Science Direct databases. The issue of witnessed resuscitation, along with the benefits and disadvantages of its implementation, is discussed widely with increasing controversy among health professionals. ⋯ Although witnessed resuscitation has demonstrable benefits, the dearth of research literature on the subject makes it difficult to come to a concrete conclusion about its value in practice. More studies are needed focusing on the impact of witnessed resuscitation on staff, family members, and patients. Larger sample sizes are needed in future studies, and studies are needed in which geographical, cultural, religious, and sociological factors are taken into consideration.
-
To examine predictors of intentional and unintentional nonadherence to antihypertensive medication regimens and their relationships to blood pressure outcomes. ⋯ Our findings indicate that intentional nonadherence to antihypertensive medication that stems from incomplete knowledge of HBP treatment is prevalent among middle-aged Korean Americans with HBP. The results highlight the strong need for an intervention that focuses on increasing patient knowledge about HBP, including the benefits and side effects of antihypertensive medication. This type of focused intervention may help reduce intentional nonadherence to antihypertensive medications and ultimately result in achieving adequate BP control in this high-risk group.
-
Factors predictive of growth deficit and nutritional status in children with congenital heart disease remain unclear. The objective of this study was to characterize the growth and nutritional status of children with congenital heart disease based on anthropometric measurements and z scores. ⋯ The mean age of children in this study was 4.75 +/- 3.75 months and most (66.7%) were male. Mean anthropometric measurements were birth length, 48.6 +/- 2.34 cm; birth weight, 3.11 +/- 0.63 kg; cephalic circumference, 38.51 +/- 3.28 cm; thoracic circumference, 38.65 +/- 3.76 cm; abdominal circumference, 37.96 +/- 3.27 cm; triceps skinfold thickness, 3.69 +/- 1.57 mm; subscapular skinfold thickness, 3.22 +/- 1.34 mm; current length, 57.54 +/- 7.87 cm; and current weight, 4.46 +/- 1.49 kg. Variables significant for malnutrition in logistic regression models were sex, type of heart disease, birth weight, birth length, subscapular thickness, triceps thickness, and cephalic circumference. Nutritional defects were more evident in the case of the weight-for-age index. Boys had greater deterioration in the weight-for-age index, possibly indicating acute malnutrition, and girls had worse values for the height-for-age index, indicating a risk of chronic malnutrition.
-
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a congenital cardiac disease with an estimated prevalence of 1:500 in the population. Individuals with HCM can present with clinical manifestations that include left ventricular outflow obstruction, cardiac dysrhythmias, diastolic heart failure, cardiac angina, and sudden cardiac death. Current treatments include pharmacologic intervention to reduce heart rate and ventricular contractility as well as surgery or septal alcohol ablation to reduce myocardial septal size. ⋯ The identification of persons at risk for complications related to HCM is important for reducing mortality and morbidity in this population. In addition, diagnosis of HCM in an individual allows the healthcare provider caring for these patients to screen, educate, and institute timely preventative measures in other members of the family. The purpose of this review is to provide clinicians caring for cardiac patients with a guide for recognition, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of HCM.
-
Assisting nurses in gaining the cognitive and psychomotor skills necessary to safely and effectively care for patients with cardiovascular disease can be challenging for educators. Ideally, nurses would have the opportunity to synthesize and practice these skills in a protected training environment before application in the dynamic clinical setting. ⋯ This article describes the High Fidelity Human Simulation Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing and presents strategies for using this technology as a tool in teaching complex cardiac nursing care at the basic and advanced practice nursing levels. The advantages and disadvantages of high fidelity human simulation in learning are discussed.