Canadian journal of cardiovascular nursing = Journal canadien en soins infirmiers cardio-vasculaires
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Can J Cardiovasc Nurs · Jan 2013
Caring for patients receiving therapeutic hypothermia post cardiac arrest in the intensive care unit.
Survivors of ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest have poor and often devastating neurological outcomes despite advances in resuscitation techniques and services (Bernard et al., 2002; Collins & Samworth, 2008). In an effort to increase survival rates, improve neurological outcomes and reduce mortality for surviving patients, clinical trials have shown that a mild state of therapeutic hypothermia (32 degrees C to 34 degrees C) has been linked to improved patient outcomes post cardiac arrest (Koran, 2008; Lee & Asare, 2010). ⋯ Busy nurses need flexibility in the delivery of programs in the clinical setting, and this program was designed to meet that need with a combination of self-paced modules, lectures, discussions and a return demonstration. In this article, the authors discuss the nursing care of post cardiac arrest patients receiving TH, and the design and implementation of the education program.
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Can J Cardiovasc Nurs · Jan 2013
ReviewExposing barriers to end-of-life communication in heart failure: an integrative review.
End-of-life (EOL) communication is lacking despite patients with heart failure (HF) and their caregivers desiring it. ⋯ The challenge of diagnosing and prognosticating HF, its unpredictable trajectory, HCP inexperience in recognizing nearing EOL and lack of communication skills lead to HCPs avoiding EOL conversations. Four categories of barriers to communication were identified: patient/caregiver, HCP, disease-specific and organizational challenges.