Intensive & critical care nursing : the official journal of the British Association of Critical Care Nurses
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Intensive Crit Care Nurs · Dec 2003
Multicenter StudyIntensive care sedation of mechanically ventilated patients: a national Swedish survey.
Sedation in critically ill patients is a complex issue and at the same time an important concept for ensuring patient comfort. The aim of this study was to review the current practice of sedation for patients on mechanical ventilation in Swedish intensive care units (ICUs). Questionnaires were sent by post to head nurses in 89 ICUs with mechanically ventilated patients. ⋯ This study indicates that local habits and personal attitudes seem to have a great impact on sedation routines. It therefore appears worthwhile for ICUs to review their practice and, if necessary, to consider implementing sedation scales and sedation guidelines. Research pertaining to potential complications and patient comfort in relation to different sedation levels as well as further validation of the efficacy of sedation scales is needed.
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Intensive Crit Care Nurs · Dec 2003
Patients' sleep in an intensive care unit--patients' and nurses' perception.
The main purpose of this study was to describe how patients treated in an intensive care unit (ICU) perceive their sleep and to compare patients' and nurses' perceptions of the patients' sleep. The study also determined the percentage of patients in the ICU who were able to fill in the Richard Campell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ). This instrument consists of six items and utilises a visual analogue scale (VAS). ⋯ Patients who had received hypnotics or sedatives during the night (n=12) had a significantly lower total sleep score (mean=31.6) than the rest of the patients (mean 54.3; P=0.037). On comparing the patients' and the nurses' perceptions of the patients' sleep, no significant difference between the groups was seen. This indicates that nurses can use the RCSQ to assess the sleep of patients who are unable to report their sleep themselves.