Intensive & critical care nursing : the official journal of the British Association of Critical Care Nurses
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Intensive Crit Care Nurs · Oct 1996
Patient's experiences of communication during the respirator treatment period.
This paper reports a study of the patients' experiences of communication during the respirator treatment period (RT period) in the intensive care unit (ICU). This descriptive and exploratory study was designed to answer the question. How do respirator treated patients experience communication? Eight individuals who had experienced being treated with a respirator in two ICUs in Iceland, took part in audiotape-recorded, open interviews. ⋯ The presence and support provided by family members was also valuable to them. The results add to the cumulative knowledge base of communication between nurses and patients by generating new meanings of the nature and essences of communication during the RT period from the patients' perspectives. In this article, the findings of the study are described and discussed in relation to earlier published research and clinical literature on the subject.
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Intensive Crit Care Nurs · Oct 1996
Review Case ReportsThe nurse's role in pain assessment and management in a coronary care unit.
Nurses play an important role in the assessment and management of pain, but some have many misbeliefs about the pain experience (Watt-Watson & Donovan 1992) and pain management, which may affect their judgment when dealing with a patient's pain. This review of literature on pain assessment and management includes pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment. A case study highlights the nurse's role in assessment and management of pain in patients admitted to a coronary care unit. Recommendations are made as to how the nursing management of pain can be improved.
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Intensive Crit Care Nurs · Oct 1996
ReviewEndotracheal suctioning in adults with severe head injury: literature review.
Endotracheal suctioning is a routine but potentially dangerous nursing procedure. The research literature documenting approaches to minimising the complications of endotracheal suctioning in adults with severe head injuries is reviewed. Hyperoxygenation, hyperventilation, hyperinflation, normal saline instillation and the effects of endotracheal suctioning on intracranial pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure are examined. Recommendations for an evidence-based endotracheal suctioning protocol are made.
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Intensive Crit Care Nurs · Oct 1996
ReviewChanging ventilator tubing circuits every seven days versus every 72 hours: proposed practice based on literature review.
The changing of ventilator circuitry is a costly, time-consuming exercise. The current practise of changing circuits every 72 hours is not supported by research and is therefore being challenged. ⋯ Previous research studying the time interval between circuit changes is reviewed. Contributing factors such as the contamination of tubing by various means are discussed and finally research-based proposals for future practice will be made.
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Intensive Crit Care Nurs · Aug 1996
Noise levels in a cardiac surgical intensive care unit: a preliminary study conducted in secret.
Noise in hospitals frequently exceeds recommended levels and has detrimental psychological and physiological effects on patients and staff. The aim of this study was to record the noise levels within the cardiac surgical intensive care unit (CSICU) environment in secret. The device used was a CEL Instruments environmental noise meter concealed in a dummy box featuring temperature and humidity digital displays. ⋯ The continuous background noise was at its lowest at 57.5 dBA 1 min equivalent continuous sound pressure levels (Leq) and at its peak 77.3 dBA 1 min Leq. Noise in the CSICU was above the recommended levels for patients and staff well-being. Future studies will be designed to establish a correlation between sound levels and events.