Nursing in critical care
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Nursing in critical care · Mar 2009
Experiences of intensive care unit diaries: 'touching a tender wound'.
The aim of this study was to describe peoples' experiences of a personal diary written when they were critically ill and receiving care in an intensive care unit (ICU). ⋯ It is suggested that a diary may be a tool that can help formerly critically ill people to gain a sense of coherence concerning their critical illness experience, but reading it can be painful and demanding.
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Nursing in critical care · Jan 2009
ReviewAcute care teaching in the undergraduate nursing curriculum.
To incorporate basic aspects of acute care into the undergraduate nursing programme by providing an opportunity for the development of knowledge and skills in the early recognition and assessment of deteriorating patients on general hospital wards. ⋯ The provision of undergraduate education in care of the acutely ill patient in hospital is essential to improve nurses' competence and confidence in assessing and managing deteriorating patients in general wards at the point of registration.
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Nursing in critical care · Jan 2009
ReviewOpioid and benzodiazepine withdrawal syndromes in the paediatric intensive care unit: a review of recent literature.
This paper aims to critically review and analyse available literature to inform and advance patient care. ⋯ Withdrawal syndromes continue to be widespread and difficult to diagnose. Awareness of their causes and treatments should influence clinical decisions at the bedside.
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Nursing in critical care · Jan 2009
Developing and setting up a patient and relatives intensive care support group.
The purpose of this article was to highlight the need to provide support for patients and relatives following critical illness and discharge from hospital and how this can be improved through the establishment of user support groups. ⋯ Our experience has shown there is a need that can be met simply with minimal investment of time and funding but that addresses a gap in patient support that otherwise goes unmet. Although this was a service development in one local area, it could be adapted to ICU patients and relatives more widely.
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Nursing in critical care · Nov 2008
Using a high-flow respiratory system (Vapotherm) within a high dependency setting.
Vapotherm 2000i is a non-invasive high-flow respiratory support system used mainly in the treatment of type 1 respiratory failure. It uses a mixture of oxygen and air to deliver a set concentration via nasal cannula (or tracheostomy mask). The advantage of this system is the high humidity achieved using the integral heated water system. The system has been used in neonatal practice as a replacement for conventional continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) but there is little published research within the adult setting about its use. ⋯ A non-invasive high-flow respiratory support system can be effective at improving oxygenation in hypoxic patients. Patients were generally satisfied with the system and the system seems suitable for use in an adult surgical high dependency setting.