Intensive & critical care nursing : the official journal of the British Association of Critical Care Nurses
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Intensive Crit Care Nurs · Apr 1995
A qualitative study to establish the self-perceived needs of family members of patients in a general intensive care unit.
Admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) invariably causes a considerable degree of distress and anxiety to both patient and family. If we profess to deliver holistic care then it is essential that intensive care nurses are able to identify the specific needs of family members and provide appropriate supportive interventions. This small study was designed to gain the perspectives of the families. ⋯ Interviews were tape-recorded with permission and subsequently transcribed. Thematic content analysis adapted from Glaser & Strauss' 'grounded theory' approach (1967) by Burnard (1991) occurred, with formation of six categories, exemplified by verbatim quotations. The study may contribute towards a framework for preventative, supportive and therapeutic intervention with family members in the intensive care setting.
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The movement of nurse education to the tertiary sector is all but complete in Australia. Trends are changing as new partnerships are being forged and the focus of education is now reponsive to economic and political factors. These factors have resulted in the regionalisation of health care facilities and the de-institutionalisation of health services in Queensland. ⋯ Strategies which were developed collaboratively addressed course content including logistics, time management, the critical selective selection of appropriate content, assessment critera, 'registerbility' within Queensland and other states, and clinical competence will be addressed. Moreover, this process of developing the course content utilised Australian National Registering Authority (ANRAC 1990) Competencies and Benners' (1984) use of the Dreyfus model to guide the expected knowledge level of the clinician at course completion. In particular this paper will not only address the blending of theory and practice to consolidate the relationship inherent between the clinician and education, but will establish the fact that no gap exists.
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Irrespective of the immersion medium, the primary consequence of any near drowning episode is hypoxemia and resultant hypoxia. The gravest consequence of hypoxia is cerebral insult. ⋯ Nursing and medical care should be directed towards reversal of hypoxemia and cerebral salvage with this factor in mind, rather than expectation of relatively rare sequelae. This article reviews the pathophysiology of near drowning and contemporary trends in its treatment.
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Intensive Crit Care Nurs · Feb 1995
ReviewThe sedation of patients in intensive care units: a nursing review.
The aim of maintaining optimal levels of sedation in critically ill patients is an important concern of intensive care nurses. In addition, the specific requirements of patients are individual and will vary according to the severity of their illness and/or supportive treatment that they may be undergoing (Hopkinson & Freeman 1988). ⋯ This is followed by consideration of what is meant by optimal levels of sedation, a review of past and current sedation practice and the importance of nurses assessing the depth of sedation of the critically ill patients within their care. Key points are raised, with recommendations for future nursing practice.