American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
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Family members of patients who die in an intensive care unit (ICU) may experience negative outcomes. However, few studies have assessed the effectiveness of bereavement care for families. ⋯ Bereavement follow-up after an ICU death reduced family members' prolonged grief and may also reduce their risk of posttraumatic stress disorder. This type of support did not have a measurable effect on depression or satisfaction with ICU care.
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Health care work environments affect patient outcomes, staff satisfaction and retention, and organizational financial viability. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Healthy Work Environment Assessment Tool (HWEAT) is a resource for patient care units and organizations to assess the work environment and track progress on their journey to excellence. ⋯ The AACN HWEAT was both reliable and valid, supporting its interprofessional use as an organizational measure. Active evaluation of health care environments is critical to achieving optimal patient outcomes.
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Older adults account for more than half of all admissions to intensive care units; most remain alive at 1 year, but with long-term sequelae. ⋯ Although initiatives have increased awareness of the challenges, implementation of geriatric-focused practices in intensive care is inconsistent.
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Structured communication tools for postoperative surgical handover to the intensive care unit (ICU) have shown promise, yet little work has addressed ongoing daily communication between the surgery and ICU teams thereafter. ⋯ A simple handover checklist improved health care practitioner satisfaction with communication during postoperative handover to the ICU. Concise daily communication tools are an appropriate option for improving ongoing communication between surgeons and the ICU team thereafter.
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Nearly one-third of new-graduate nurse practitioners report undergoing no formal orientation process, and postcertification orientation processes vary. A validated curriculum would address the need for structured training to enhance new graduates' practice transition. ⋯ The curriculum developed and validated in this study can become the basis for practice transition for novice nurse practitioners. The curriculum is adaptable and can be used for surgical and medical intensive care units. As refined, the competencies provide a validated foundation for training of new-graduate nurse practitioners in the intensive care unit.