Dynamics (Pembroke, Ont.)
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Dynamics (Pembroke, Ont.) · Jan 2005
ReviewThe role of the critical care nurse in improving quality of life in ICU survivors.
In ICU survivors, QOL is a dynamic term that identifies to what extent a critical illness has affected one's life. As an outcome measure, QOL has been studied in ICU survivors over the last few years. Researchers suggest that QOL is poor following ICU admission, and identify specific QOL issues that ICU survivors deal with, mostly related to physical functioning. The critical care nurse's role is to better QOL by improving the ICU survivor's transition into the post-ICU period through improved mobility, good management of sedation, pain, sleep and, most importantly, discharge planning.
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Hypothermia can result from exposure to a cold environment (e.g., accidental drowning) or it can be induced and used as a brain protection strategy (e.g., therapeutic hypothermia). One common ECG presentation with hypothermia is the J wave, which is related to the altered cellular activities during hypothermia. A case study is used in this article to illustrate the presentation of a J wave with a patient experiencing hypothermia.
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Dynamics (Pembroke, Ont.) · Jan 2005
ReviewImproving pain management for critically ill and injured patients.
The under-treatment of pain continues to be a problem in patient care. Evidence shows a significant percentage of patients suffering with acute and chronic pain, despite the treatment options available. ⋯ As health care professionals, nurses have a responsibility to advocate for patients and provide the best pain management possible. Efforts to improve pain management will help avoid complications, such as chronic pain syndrome, while improving comfort, function, and quality of life.
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Critical care involves caring for complex and acute needs of patients with life-threatening conditions. Despite skilful interventions, there are times when the care needed by patients and their families is primarily palliative. In this article, the author focuses on examples of ways nurses can make the palliative care they provide exemplary. ⋯ This article includes a description of key ways critical care nurses may address the needs of patients who are palliative. Specifically, the themes of helping people live on, individualizing care, defending human dignity, sensitive listening, sharing hope, and keeping the promise to never abandon are described. These themes all fall under the overarching theme of simple gestures, which is also described in this report.