Intensive & critical care nursing : the official journal of the British Association of Critical Care Nurses
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Intensive Crit Care Nurs · Aug 2011
Needs of American relatives of intensive care patients: perceptions of relatives, physicians and nurses.
This study investigated differences between the perceptions of American relatives, physicians and nurses concerning the needs of relatives visiting intensive care patients. ⋯ There were significant correlations (p<0.05) between the relatives, physicians and nurses on eight of the 45 individual items on the CCFNI. Subscale (Information, Proximity, Assurance, Comfort and Support) scores for the needs perceived by relatives, physicians and nurses were calculated and there were significant differences in the three groups on Information (F=5.90, df=2, p=.0005), Support (F=4.12, df=2, p=.022) and Comfort (F=5.01, df=2, p=.010). Relatives and nurses made multiple comments on the surveys. This is important information for all health care workers to consider in setting visiting policies in adult ICUs and developing approaches such as family centred care.
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Intensive Crit Care Nurs · Aug 2011
ICU nurses' perceptions of potential constraints and anticipated support to practice defibrillation: a qualitative study.
The study examines the experience of intensive care nurses in caring for patients in cardiac arrest, and their perceptions of introducing nurse-led defibrillation. ⋯ Nurse-led defibrillation is an approach of delivering prompt care to critically ill patients, and a way ahead for intensive care nursing in Hong Kong. Emphasis on a consistent policy to promote nurse-led defibrillation practice is needed.
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Intensive Crit Care Nurs · Jun 2011
Sleep promotion in the intensive care unit-a survey of nurses' interventions.
Sleep deprivation is common amongst patients in intensive care units (ICU) and can lead to physiological and psychological dysfunctions that affect the healing process and increase morbidity and mortality. A focus on the effects of the ICU environment on patient sleep quality has lead to strategies for improvements in patient care. The aim of this small-scale study was to investigate the perceptions of the sleep-promoting interventions that ICU nurses believe they provide. ⋯ A questionnaire was created to collect information on the nurses' interventions to promote night- and daytime patient sleep in accordance with the literature findings. A total of 25 ICU nurses working in an ICU with medical and surgical patients at the University Hospital of Northern Norway completed the e-mail-administered web-based questionnaire. The ICU nurses reported an overall interest and awareness in sleep-promoting interventions utilising all four approaches, but the challenge of caring for critically ill patients with demands of frequent assessment and nursing may influence which interventions are prioritised.
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Intensive Crit Care Nurs · Jun 2011
Survey of assessment and management of pain for critically ill adults.
To investigate critical care nurses' current practice and knowledge related to pain assessment and management for critically ill adults able and unable to self-report pain. ⋯ Though nurses considered pain assessment equally important for patients unable and able to selfreport, formal assessment tools were used less frequently and nurses were less confident in their ability to assess pain for patients unable to self-report.
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Intensive Crit Care Nurs · Apr 2011
Screening and treatment of problems after intensive care: a descriptive study of multidisciplinary follow-up.
To describe a multidisciplinary intensive care follow-up and the methods used for identifying and managing physical and psychological problems in ICU survivors. ⋯ Multidisciplinary follow-up after intensive care can be of value in identifying untreated physical and psychological problems in ICU survivors. Liaison with specialists enables referral for identified problems. Patients screened and treated in the first six months appear to have little need for further follow-up after intensive care.