Nursing in critical care
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Nursing in critical care · Mar 2017
ReviewNurses' communication with families in the intensive care unit - a literature review.
This review examined the literature across 12 years that explored nurses' perceptions of their role when communicating with families in adult intensive care units (ICUs). The objectives were: (1) to describe how ICU nurses facilitated communication with families; (2) the perceived barriers to that communication; (3) strategies to improve their skills. ⋯ This review summarizes nurses' perceptions of the means and barriers for communicating with families in ICUs. Intensive care nurses need skills and knowledge in how to communicate effectively with families. This skill can be learnt formally, or acquired from role modelling of more experienced peers.
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Nursing in critical care · Mar 2017
Randomized Controlled TrialEffects of aromatherapy on sleep quality and anxiety of patients.
In intensive care units (ICUs), patients cannot sleep well. Aromatherapy is used for depression, anxiety, relaxation and disorders related with sleep and stress. ⋯ As a non-invasive, cheap, easily applicable, cost-effective, independent nursing intervention and appropriate for cardiac patients, lavender essential oil could be applied in ICUs.
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Nursing in critical care · Mar 2017
Intensive care unit patients' experience of being conscious during endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation.
There is a change in paradigm in intensive care units with trends towards lighter sedation. Light or no sedation protocols are, however, a radical change for clinical practice and can cause challenges for the patients. Undergoing mechanical ventilation when conscious can be a distressing experience for the patients. Receiving a tracheostomy increases patient comfort, but some patients still undergo prolonged endotracheal intubation during mechanical ventilation. The experience of being conscious during endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit has not previously been described. ⋯ The study suggests that clinical nursing practice may have to be further developed to accommodate the patients' needs, e.g. communicating and participating as well as optimizing nursing interventions towards thirst, pain and tube management. Furthermore, the intensive care unit setting may need revision, providing space for the patient and sensory meaningful inputs in the technologically intense environment.
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Nursing in critical care · Mar 2017
Oral care for intubated patients: a survey of intensive care unit nurses.
This study aimed to determine attitudes and practices of intensive care unit (ICU) nurses towards provision of oral care for intubated patients. ⋯ Recommendations were made for providing standard oral care protocols for intubated patients and oral care training programs for ICU nurses to support delivery of quality patient care.