American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
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Regular pain assessment can lead to decreased incidence of pain and shorter durations of mechanical ventilation and stays in the intensive care unit. ⋯ A substantial proportion of intensive care unit nurses did not use pain assessment tools for patients unable to communicate and were unaware of pain management guidelines published by professional societies.
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BACKGROUND PATIENT: ventilator dyssynchrony is common and may influence patients' outcomes. Detection of such dyssynchronies relies on careful observation of patients and airway flow and pressure measurements. Given the shortage of specialists, critical care nurses could be trained to identify dyssynchronies. ⋯ Specifically trained nurses can reliably detect ineffective inspiratory efforts during expiration.
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Biography Historical Article
Clinical research: together, stronger, bolder.
Clinical inquiry is the ongoing process of questioning and evaluating practice, providing informed practice based on best-available data, and innovating practice though research. It is about noticing subtle differences at the bedside and asking "what if" questions. Critically ill patients and their families require care that is based on our best-available evidence. ⋯ In critical care, clinical research should be conducted in the same manner as we practice, collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams. Our core value of the primacy of patient and family, our spirit of inquiry, and our passion for innovation centers our practice. During this year's Distinguished Research Lecture, Martha Curley describes how together, we can build stronger, bolder clinical research.