Critical care nurse
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Critical care nurse · Jun 2021
Multicenter StudyA Whirlpool of Stress in Families of Intensive Care Unit Patients: A Qualitative Multicenter Study.
Family members of patients admitted to the intensive care unit must tolerate high levels of stress, making them emotionally and physically vulnerable. However, little is known about the kinds of stress family members may experience. ⋯ The findings of this study may help critical care nurses better understand the nature and sources of family stresses during a patient's intensive care unit stay. Supervisory nurses should alert their staff to these issues so that family care programs can address them, thereby reducing family members' risk of posttraumatic stress disorder and post-intensive care syndrome-family.
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Critical care nurse · Jun 2019
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyImplementation and Analysis of a Free Water Protocol in Acute Trauma and Stroke Patients.
Free water protocols allow patients who aspirate thin liquids and meet eligibility criteria to have access to water or ice according to specific guidelines. Limited research is available concerning free water protocols in acute care settings. ⋯ Larger-scale studies are needed to reach decisive conclusions on the positive outcomes and negative indicators of a free water protocol in the acute care setting.
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Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a rare, potentially fatal drug reaction that causes necrosis of epidermal cells. Early recognition of the syndrome is essential to prevent complications. This article discusses identification, complications, and treatment of Stevens-Johnson syndrome.