Dynamics (Pembroke, Ont.)
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Burnout and its development in critical care nurses is a concept that has received extensive study, yet remains a problem in Canada and around the world. Critical care nurses are particularly vulnerable to developing burnout due to the chronic occupational stressors they are exposed to, including high patient acuity, high levels of responsibility, working with advanced technology, caring for families in crisis, and involved in morally distressing situations, particularly prolonging life unnecessarily. The purpose of this article is to explore how the chronic stressors that critical care nurses are exposed to contribute to the development of burnout, and strategies for burnout prevention. ⋯ The results revealed that nurse managers play a crucial role in preventing burnout by creating a supportive work environment for critical care nurses. Strategies for nurse managers to accomplish this include being accessible to critical care nurses, fostering collegial relationships among the different disciplines, and making a counsellor or grief team available to facilitate debriefing after stressful situations, such as a death. In addition, critical care nurses can help prevent burnout by being a support system for each other and implementing self-care strategies.
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Dynamics (Pembroke, Ont.) · Jan 2012
A survey of nurses' perceptions of the intensive care delirium screening checklist.
Delirium in critically ill patients is common and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Routine delirium screening is recommended by the Society of Critical Care Medicine. The Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC) is one validated and commonly-used tool, but little is known about nurses'perceptions of using the ICDSC, and of barriers to delirium assessment and treatment. ⋯ The ICDSC is viewed favourably by nurses with experience using the tool. Future delirium screening programs should encourage physician engagement early in the planning process to help address perceived barriers to delirium assessment and treatment.
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Dynamics (Pembroke, Ont.) · Jan 2011
Clinical TrialCerebrospinal fluid collection: a comparison of different collection sites on the external ventricular drain.
Intracranial pressure monitoring using an external ventricular drainage (EVD) system is the most commonly used technology to monitor intracranial pressure or drain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in neurological and neurosurgical patients. CSF samples are collected routinely from the EVD system for laboratory tests. No study has been conducted to identify where the most appropriate site for CSF collection is in order to reduce the disruption of the closed EVD system and reduce the risk of infection. ⋯ The distal port of the EVD system is safe and easy for CSF collection. It also provides accurate results for CSF samples. When the CSF sample is collected from the distal port, the entire volume of CSF in the drip chamber should be collected and tested to obtain an accurate WBC count per unit of volume.
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Dynamics (Pembroke, Ont.) · Jan 2011
Caring for patients and families at end of life: the experiences of nurses during withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment.
Withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment is a process in which active treatment and the accompanying technology are removed, ending in the death of the patient. ⋯ The essence of this experience was described by these nurses as "trying to do the right thing". Three major themes emerged: A journey--creating comfort along the way, working in professional angst, and providing memories.