Intensive care nursing
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Intensive care nursing · Sep 1991
ReviewA review of communication with intubated patients and those with tracheostomies within an intensive care environment.
A major aspect of nursing care within intensive care environments is communication. If nursing communication with patients is to be both effective and therapeutic nurses need to understand the principles of communication and identify the purposes of nurse-patient interactions. The main purpose of this article is to review and examine normal communication channels and the actual and potential barriers to communication between nurses and patients who are intubated or have tracheostomies. The assessment of these patients' needs for communication, planning, implementation and evaluation of nursing to meet them are discussed, and also implications for the future.
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The aim in this paper is to review the possible beneficial effects of music on intensive care patients. Many aspects are considered incorporating the history and physiological and psychological effects music may have. This is then related to the nurses' role within intensive care situations.
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Intensive care nursing · Sep 1990
Case ReportsThe use of a multidisciplinary group meeting for families of critically ill trauma patients.
Family members of any trauma patient admitted to the Level I trauma center are invited by the trauma staff to attend weekly multidisciplinary meetings. By the use of these meetings, family concerns can become a positive care factor and the tasks of nurses, doctors and social workers alike made easier.
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Intensive care nursing · Jun 1990
Use of patient controlled analgesia in postoperative cardiac surgical patients--a survey of ward staff attitudes.
Staff who worked regularly on a postoperative cardiac surgical ward were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding the use of patient controlled analgesia, which had recently been introduced to the ward. Fifty-five per cent found that the machines reduced their workload, mainly by relieving them of the task of checking and administering controlled drugs. The benefits noted were increased patient confidence (noted by 74%) and improved analgesia (41%). However it was felt by 61% that some postoperative cardiac patients seemed reluctant to use the machines properly or did not fully understand the technique.