The Nursing clinics of North America
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Nurs. Clin. North Am. · Sep 1997
ReviewThe role of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) in improving outcomes of care.
This article describes the various outcomes programs supported by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR). The mission of the agency is to generate and disseminate information that improves the delivery and quality of health care. The agency is charged with helping consumers, providers, purchasers, health plans, and policy makers meet the challenge of improving the quality of health care services while reducing spending. AHCPR has been recognized as funding the development of "gold standard" clinical practice guidelines and the source of unbiased, science-based information on what works and does not work in health care.
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Nurs. Clin. North Am. · Jun 1997
ReviewInfectious complications: prevention and strategies for their control.
Despite major advances in burn wound management and other supportive care regimens, infection remains the leading cause of morbidity in the thermally injured patient. Changes in nursing practices and patient isolation have played a significant role in reducing the incidence of burn wounds and other infections, particularly those that result from cross-contamination in the hospitalized burn patient. This article focuses on the sources of the most common infections seen in burn centers today and on the infection control strategies developed for their prevention and treatment.
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Few features of the burn victim attract more attention than the damage or destruction of the skin from thermal injury. Management of the resultant burn wound is the systematic application of knowledge and technique to promote and facilitate closure of integumentary disruption. ⋯ This article reviews management of the burn wound with emphasis on methods, techniques, and procedures used in contemporary burn wound treatment. The article also includes nursing care plans of selected nursing diagnoses for organizing and facilitating the nursing care process.
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Nurs. Clin. North Am. · Jun 1997
ReviewBurn management. Initial assessment, management, and stabilization.
Burn statistics today reflect a downward trend in occurrence, and many burn injuries are preventable. The outcomes of the injury are greatly influenced by the care received at the scene of the accident and in the emergency department. Initial burn wound assessment and fluid resuscitation, as well as management of associated injuries, pain, and anxiety are critical elements of care and require monitoring by experienced burn team staff members.
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In this article the authors review the developmental pathophysiology of pain and its effects on children. Assessment modalities for differing developmental levels in the pediatric patient are reviewed. Medical modalities including medications administered orally, patient-controlled analgesia, epidurals, and preemptive analgesia are described.