Critical care nurse
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Critical care nurse · Feb 2020
Randomized Controlled TrialEffect of Eye Masks on Pain and Sleep Quality in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Impaired sleep is a common complaint among patients undergoing major surgery and may be a contributing factor in postoperative pain. The provision of eye masks to patients after cardiac surgery may reduce postoperative pain through improvements in sleep quality. ⋯ Nocturnal eye masks are a simple, low-risk, low-cost intervention that may contribute to reductions in perceived pain in cardiac surgery patients.
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Critical care nurse · Dec 2019
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyEffect of 2 Enteral Feeding Schedules on Intra-abdominal Pressure in Patients Receiving Mechanical Ventilation: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Elevated intra-abdominal pressure is associated with morbidity in critically ill patients. Enteral feeding is important for these patients but may cause complications. ⋯ Intra-abdominal pressure was not significantly affected by feeding interval. However, reducing the time interval between intermittent enteral feedings may minimize the risk for constipation and abdominal distension.
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Critical care nurse · Oct 2019
Randomized Controlled TrialPalliation of Thirst in Intensive Care Unit Patients: Translating Research Into Practice.
Thirst is prevalent among patients in intensive care units. A research-based "thirst bundle" was shown to significantly decrease thirst in these patients. ⋯ The palliative "thirst bundle" significantly alleviated patients' thirst and resulted in little caregiver burden. Further efforts are warranted to incorporate this intervention into intensive care unit practice.
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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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Critical care nurse · Feb 2018
Case Reports Randomized Controlled TrialLetting the Patient Decide: A Case Report of Self-Administered Sedation During Mechanical Ventilation.
It is common for critical care nurses to administer sedative medications to patients receiving mechanical ventilation. Although patient-controlled analgesia is frequently used in practice to promote effective self-management of pain by patients, it is not known if patient-controlled sedation can be used to promote effective self-management of distressing symptoms associated with mechanical ventilation. ⋯ This case report details the experiences of one patient enrolled in the pilot trial who was randomly assigned to the experimental dexmedetomidine intervention, completed the study protocol, and provided feedback. In a poststudy survey, the patient responded positively to the use of self-administered sedation with dexmedetomidine during ventilator support.