Crit Care Nurse
· 2023 Dec · PMID 38035620
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BACKGROUND: Patients critically ill with COVID-19 develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and may undergo prone positioning. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of prone positioning on oxygenation, intensive car...BACKGROUND: Patients critically ill with COVID-19 develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and may undergo prone positioning. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of prone positioning on oxygenation, intensive care unit length of stay, and intubation days in patients with COVID-19 ARDS and patients with non-COVID-19 ARDS. METHODS: A convenience sample of intubated patients with COVID-19 and moderate to severe ARDS (per Berlin criteria) was compared with historical data from a retrospective, descriptive medical record review of patients with non-COVID-19 ARDS. The historical comparison group was age and sex matched. RESULTS: Differences in Po2 to fraction of inspired oxygen ratios between the COVID-19 ARDS group (n = 41) and the non-COVID-19 ARDS group (n = 6) during the first 7 days of prone positioning were significant at the end of prone positioning on day 1 (P = .01), day 3 (P = .04), and day 4 (P = .04). Wilcoxon signed-rank tests showed that prone positioning had a positive impact on Po2 to fraction of inspired oxygen ratios from day 1 through day 6 in the COVID-19 ARDS group and on day 2 in the non-COVID-19 ARDS group. CONCLUSION: This retrospective review found greater improvement in oxygenation in the COVID-19 ARDS group than in the non-COVID-19 ARDS group. This finding may be attributed to the assertive prone positioning protocol during the pandemic and teams whose skills and training were likely enhanced by the pandemic demand. Prone positioning did not affect intensive care unit length of stay or intubation days in either group.
Patel C, Ruppert SD, Cao H
… +3 more, Fraser C, Laury T, Vaporciyan A
Crit Care Nurse
· 2023 Dec · PMID 38035619
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BACKGROUND: The aim of this evidence-based practice project was to determine if a digital air leak detection device could speed the identification of chest tube air leak cessation in patients after pulmonary lobectomy. S...BACKGROUND: The aim of this evidence-based practice project was to determine if a digital air leak detection device could speed the identification of chest tube air leak cessation in patients after pulmonary lobectomy. Staff members assessing air leaks have varying levels of expertise, and the digital device is a limited resource in the study institution. A chest tube management algorithm is necessary to standardize care and determine which patients are most likely to benefit. IMPLEMENTATION: Twenty-five consecutive patients who underwent pulmonary lobectomy during the study period and continued to have a chest tube air leak on postoperative day 3 were monitored with digital air leak detection devices. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare chest tube duration and hospital length of stay between patients with digital devices and 259 patients who had traditional analog air leak detection devices (historical data from the departmental database over the previous 2 years). EVALUATION: Median chest tube duration and hospital stay were 1 day less in patients with digital devices than in those with traditional analog devices (P = .01 and P = .004, respectively), with a cost savings of $2659 per hospital day. Reductions in chest tube duration and length of stay aided in the development of a chest tube management algorithm. CONCLUSIONS: Critical care nurses are valued team members who treat patients after lung resections. Digital air leak detection devices can help them assess air leaks more accurately, benefiting the patients in their care.
Crit Care Nurse
· 2023 Dec · PMID 38035618
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BACKGROUND: Professional burnout is a well-studied phenomenon marked by feelings of depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, and decreased accomplishment. Affecting nearly half of all nurses, burnout presents a threat to...BACKGROUND: Professional burnout is a well-studied phenomenon marked by feelings of depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, and decreased accomplishment. Affecting nearly half of all nurses, burnout presents a threat to health outcomes of the nurse, patient, organization, and society. Despite a growing literature on professional burnout, specific interventions that address key contributing factors have not been well described. OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this integrative literature review was to evaluate the relationship between rest breaks and professional burnout among registered nurses. METHODS: A literature search was performed in the APA (American Psychological Association) PsycInfo, CINAHL (Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Cochrane Library, Embase, and PubMed databases using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses as a reporting guideline. RESULTS: Five articles were selected for final synthesis; 1 was of "high" quality and 4 were of "good" quality. The literature showed that rest breaks were protective against professional burnout among registered nurses, especially when integrated with nursing management support, staffing support, and complementary strategies. Several threats to validity were identified as limitations among the articles selected for final synthesis. CONCLUSIONS: Rest breaks are effective in decreasing professional burnout among registered nurses, especially when combined with management support, staffing support, and complementary strategies. Future research should focus on a deeper evaluation of staffing support models, as well as identifying how nursing leaders can integrate complementary strategies across health care settings to reduce burnout.
Peters J, Won P, Herrera J
… +2 more, Gillenwater TJ, Yenikomshian HA
Crit Care Nurse
· 2023 Dec · PMID 38035617
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BACKGROUND: Patients with large burns must be carefully resuscitated to balance adequate tissue perfusion with the risk of end-organ damage. One devastating complication of overresuscitation is abdominal compartment synd...BACKGROUND: Patients with large burns must be carefully resuscitated to balance adequate tissue perfusion with the risk of end-organ damage. One devastating complication of overresuscitation is abdominal compartment syndrome. Reducing the volume of fluids given during resuscitation may reduce the incidence of abdominal compartment syndrome and improve outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether decreasing fluid resuscitation volume in a burn center reduced the incidence of abdominal compartment syndrome. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study involved all patients with severe burns (total body surface area ≥20%) who were admitted to a burn intensive care unit over 4 years (n = 166). Primary outcomes were required fluid volume, whether differences in the patient characteristics measured affected outcomes, rate of abdominal compartment syndrome, and incidence of abdominal hypertension. After the first 2 years, the Parkland fluid resuscitation algorithm was modified to decrease the volume goal, and patients were assessed for the incidence of abdominal compartment syndrome and related complications such as kidney failure, abdominal hypertension, and ventilator days. RESULTS: A total of 16% of patients resuscitated using the Parkland equation experienced abdominal compartment syndrome compared with 10% of patients resuscitated using the modified algorithm, a difference of 6 percentage points (P = .39). Average volume administered was 11.8 L using the Parkland formula and 9.4 L using the modified algorithm (P = .03). CONCLUSION: Despite a significant decrease in the amount of fluid administered, no significant difference was found in incidence of abdominal compartment syndrome or urine output. Matched prospective studies are needed to improve resuscitation care for patients with large burns.
Crit Care Nurse
· 2023 Dec · PMID 38035616
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INTRODUCTION: Fulminant myocarditis is a devastating disease with significant mortality and complications. The care of patients with fulminant myocarditis is rarely reported. CLINICAL FINDINGS: A 17-year-old female patie...INTRODUCTION: Fulminant myocarditis is a devastating disease with significant mortality and complications. The care of patients with fulminant myocarditis is rarely reported. CLINICAL FINDINGS: A 17-year-old female patient was admitted to the emergency department with dizziness, amaurosis fugax, and chest tightness. Initial assessment revealed elevated levels of troponin T (4.753 ng/mL), troponin I (49.540 ng/mL), creatine kinase (1306 U/L), creatine kinase-MB isoenzymes (75.71 ng/mL), lactate dehydrogenase (509 U/L), and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (6345 pg/mL). The patient had recurrent ventricular tachycardia and failed to maintain a sinus rhythm after multiple electrical cardioversions. DIAGNOSIS: Echocardiography revealed a left ventricular ejection fraction of 34%. Magnetic resonance imaging results confirmed the diagnosis of myocarditis. INTERVENTIONS: The patient received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for 6 days, intra-aortic balloon pump support for 7 days, and mechanical ventilation for 5 days. Norepinephrine and dopamine were used to keep circulation stable, lidocaine and amiodarone were used to control heart rate, and glucocorticoids and immunoglobulins were used to modulate immunity. OUTCOMES: The patient was discharged after 23 days. A month after discharge, echocardiography showed that the ejection fraction was 60%. The patient reported complete resolution of signs and symptoms of fulminant myocarditis at follow-up assessment. CONCLUSION: This case report presents the activities of bedside nurses in caring for a patient with fulminant myocarditis and broadens the literature describing nursing interventions for patients with fulminant myocarditis.
Crit Care Nurse
· 2023 Oct · PMID 37777250
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BACKGROUND: Family presence during resuscitation was introduced into clinical practice 30 years ago. Despite adoption of family-centered care by several health organizations and support for family presence during resusci...BACKGROUND: Family presence during resuscitation was introduced into clinical practice 30 years ago. Despite adoption of family-centered care by several health organizations and support for family presence during resuscitation by professional organizations such as the American Heart Association, critical care nurses' attitudes about family presence during resuscitation vary widely. OBJECTIVE: To examine current evidence on critical care nurses' attitudes about, perceptions of, and behaviors related to practicing family presence during resuscitation. METHODS: The method of Whittemore and Knafl guided the integrative review. Databases searched were CINAHL, PubMed, and Scopus. Articles included were English-language studies published from 2008 to 2022 that examined the perceptions of critical and emergency care nurses from adult units regarding family presence during resuscitation. RESULTS: Twenty-two articles were included. Levels and strength of evidence were assessed with the Johns Hopkins nursing evidence-based model. The articles in this integrative review included a total sample size of 4780 health care professionals; 3808 were critical and acute care nurses. DISCUSSION: Themes synthesized from current evidence included attitudes, benefits, barriers, demographic influence, cultural influence, and facilitators. Barriers and facilitators were associated with nursing practice in rural versus urban settings, age-related factors, years of experience, and unit-based differences in practice. Developing interventions to address identified factors can increase the practice of family presence during resuscitation in critical care settings. CONCLUSIONS: Several factors influence the practice of family presence during resuscitation in critical care settings. Nurse leaders should consider these factors to enhance the practice of family presence during resuscitation.
Crit Care Nurse
· 2023 Oct · PMID 37777249
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BACKGROUND: Pressure injuries remain the most common hospital-acquired condition, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are at especially high risk for pressure...BACKGROUND: Pressure injuries remain the most common hospital-acquired condition, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are at especially high risk for pressure injuries, including those related to medical devices, because of their lower tissue tolerance, prolonged intubation, and common treatment with prone positioning. LOCAL PROBLEM: The COVID-19 pandemic brought an increased incidence of hospital-acquired pressure injury. A 350-bed hospital in St. Joseph, Missouri, recognized that an intervention to lower the risk of pressure injury for these patients was needed. METHODS: A quality improvement project was initiated to reduce the incidence of pressure injuries in patients with COVID-19 in the intensive care unit. A protocol was implemented for patients with COVID-19 undergoing prone positioning that included the use of dressing packets. The incidence of hospital-acquired pressure injury during the 1-year periods before and after implementation of the protocol were determined. RESULTS: Before implementation of the new protocol, 18 of 155 intensive care unit patients with COVID-19 who were placed in a prone position (11.6%) experienced a hospital-acquired pressure or medical device-related injury, compared with 3 of 111 patients (2.7%) after protocol implementation, a reduction of 76.7% (P = .008). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of hospital-acquired pressure injuries can be reduced with additional education and the use of appropriate products and protocols. All patients who undergo prone positioning, regardless of diagnosis, may benefit from implementation of a pressure injury prevention protocol that includes the use of dressing packets.
Crit Care Nurse
· 2023 Oct · PMID 37777248
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BACKGROUND: Cerebrovascular accident, or stroke, is a common cause of death or disability. Timely diagnosis and intervention are critical for improving survival rates and reducing the long-term effects of stroke. For pat...BACKGROUND: Cerebrovascular accident, or stroke, is a common cause of death or disability. Timely diagnosis and intervention are critical for improving survival rates and reducing the long-term effects of stroke. For patients with ischemic stroke, thrombolytic drugs and endovascular intervention are time-sensitive treatment options. LOCAL PROBLEM: Patients living in rural areas often do not have access to rapid consultation with specialized neurologic teams for diagnosis and treatment of stroke. The use of telemedicine in the form of a telestroke consultation can improve timely diagnosis and treatment for rural patients exhibiting stroke symptoms. METHODS: A telestroke program was implemented in the upper Midwest. A team of 4 interventional neurologists provided telestroke consultation to a comprehensive stroke center and 5 other acute stroke-ready rural hospitals. RESULTS: A tiered stroke alert algorithm and telestroke workflow chart were developed to help health care professionals at rural sites determine eligibility for telestroke consultation. A teleneurologist connected with the originating site, and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale could be completed remotely with assistance from the originating site. Telestroke has increased the percentage of patients receiving thrombolytics in less than 60 minutes, and door-to-needle time has decreased. CONCLUSION: Rural patients with stroke symptoms may experience a delay in care or stroke diagnosis due to distance to specialized neurologic services. Telestroke consultation is a successful method for timely diagnosis of stroke and recommendation for treatment.
Crit Care Nurse
· 2023 Oct · PMID 37777246
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BACKGROUND: Nurses in surgical-trauma units are susceptible to compassion fatigue due to work-related stressors. Mitigating and preventing compassion fatigue are critical to supporting the health and well-being of surgic...BACKGROUND: Nurses in surgical-trauma units are susceptible to compassion fatigue due to work-related stressors. Mitigating and preventing compassion fatigue are critical to supporting the health and well-being of surgical-trauma nurses. LOCAL PROBLEM: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a surgical-trauma unit was converted to a designated COVID-19 unit. Nurses verbalized feelings of burnout and stress during the pandemic and did not have a mechanism to cope with work-related stress. This project evaluated the impact of brief mindfulness-based interventions on compassion fatigue. METHODS: From February 2021 to March 2022, mindfulness champions led 5 minutes of mindfulness-based interventions, including meditation, deep breathing, and self-compassion exercises, during shift huddles. The Professional Quality of Life, version 5, questionnaire was used to evaluate preintervention and postintervention burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion satisfaction. Paired-sample t tests were used to evaluate the results. RESULTS: Twenty-nine of 34 nurses responded (85% response rate) with matched preintervention and postintervention questionnaires. All subscale scores showed significant improvement after intervention. The mean burnout subscale score decreased by 9.35% (P = .003), mean secondary traumatic stress subscale score decreased by 11.89% (P = .005), and mean compassion satisfaction subscale score increased by 6.44% (P = .03) after intervention. DISCUSSION: After implementing brief mindfulness-based interventions in shift huddles, nurses reported reductions in elements of compassion fatigue (burnout and secondary traumatic stress). Nurses reported that adding brief mindfulness-based interventions to shift huddles helped them cope with work-related stress. CONCLUSIONS: Brief mindfulness-based interventions can improve nurses' compassion satisfaction while reducing compassion fatigue measurements.
Crit Care Nurse
· 2023 Oct · PMID 37777245
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BACKGROUND: Family-centered rounds are standard practice in pediatrics. However, some parents of children in the pediatric intensive care unit cannot attend rounds. LOCAL PROBLEM: A 36-bed academic, tertiary care pediatr...BACKGROUND: Family-centered rounds are standard practice in pediatrics. However, some parents of children in the pediatric intensive care unit cannot attend rounds. LOCAL PROBLEM: A 36-bed academic, tertiary care pediatric hospital implemented telerounds during the COVID-19 pandemic. After visiting restrictions were lifted, nurses were interested in continuing telerounds for families who could not attend daily rounds. The aim of this evidence-based quality improvement project was to develop a standardized, family-centered telerounding process that satisfied parents, nurses, and physicians. METHODS: Nurses offered telerounds to pediatric intensive care unit family members who could not attend rounds. Families received a unique link to telerounds using a secure connection. Nurses completed electronic satisfaction surveys after each session; physicians completed surveys at the end of their weeklong pediatric intensive care unit rotation; families received surveys at the end of the pediatric intensive care unit stay. RESULTS: Twenty families qualified for telerounds; 16 families completed sessions. Enrolled patients and families participated in 93 telerounding events. Nine family members (56%) returned satisfaction surveys revealing an overall satisfaction level of 9.9 out of 10. Thirty nurses reported an overall satisfaction level of 8.8 out of 10. Eleven physicians reported a mean satisfaction level of 8.8 out of 10. CONCLUSIONS: This project demonstrated that a standardized process of secure telerounding was feasible in a pediatric intensive care unit. Families, nurses, and physicians reported satisfaction with the process. Telerounds can be implemented without considerable inconvenience to staff and enable continuation of family-centered care when parents are absent from the hospital.
Parker LA, Pruitt J, Monk A
… +3 more, Lambert MT, Lorca GL, Neu J
Crit Care Nurse
· 2023 Aug · PMID 37524370
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BACKGROUND: Critically ill infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit are at risk for ventilator-associated pneumonia and abnormal oral colonization. Adherence to evidence-based guidelines for oral care in crit...BACKGROUND: Critically ill infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit are at risk for ventilator-associated pneumonia and abnormal oral colonization. Adherence to evidence-based guidelines for oral care in critically ill adults is associated with improved short- and long-term health outcomes. However, oral care guidelines for critically ill infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit have not been established, possibly increasing their risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia and other health complications. OBJECTIVE: To describe and summarize the evidence regarding oral care for critically ill infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit and to identify gaps needing further investigation. METHODS: The MEDLINE (through PubMed) and CINAHL databases were searched for observational studies and randomized controlled trials investigating the effect of oral care on oral colonization, ventilator-associated pneumonia, and health outcomes of infants in the neonatal intensive care unit. RESULTS: This review of 5 studies yielded evidence that oral care may promote a more commensal oral and endotracheal tube aspirate microbiome. It may also reduce the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia and length of stay in the neonatal intensive care unit. However, the paucity of research regarding oral care in this population and differences in oral care procedures, elements used, and timing greatly limit any possible conclusions. CONCLUSIONS: Oral care in critically ill infants may be especially important because of their suppressed immunity and physiological immaturity. Further appropriately powered studies that control for potential covariates, monitor for adverse events, and use recommended definitions of ventilator-associated pneumonia are needed to make clinical recommendations.