Medsurg nursing : official journal of the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses
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Review Case Reports
Assessment and discharge planning for hospitalized older adults with delirium.
A description of the effects of delirium on attention is provided. Nursing implications pertinent to appropriate assessment for attention deficits, interventions to maintain patient safety, and discharge planning for the older adult with persistent delirium are also discussed.
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Opioid analgesia is used more frequently in patients with chronic pain unresponsive to non-opioid therapy. The result is a growing number of individuals admitted to the hospital for acute pain (trauma or surgery) who are opioid-tolerant. Nursing strategies to improve pain intervention in this population are discussed.
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The literature review presented here explores the feelings of patients and health care providers regarding the disclosure of medical errors. Findings from these studies illuminate patients' desires for information about medical errors and what they are likely to do with the information once they are informed.
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Medication errors continue to be a significant issue affecting patient safety in United States hospitals. The researchers conducted a qualitative study to explore the understanding and management of medication errors by practicing nurses. The results indicated a belief that late medication administration does not always constitute an error, the use of nursing judgment helps determine when and if medication should be given, and an increased reliance upon computerized and systematic checks put into place in health care systems.