Dimensions of critical care nursing : DCCN
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Dimens Crit Care Nurs · Jan 2012
Multicenter StudyExploration of the association between professional interactions and emotional distress of intensive care unit nursing personnel.
: Several studies provide evidence for the association between the quality of collaboration among intensive care unit (ICU) professionals and patients' outcomes, as well as nurses' moral distress and professional satisfaction. However, potential associations between collaboration and nurses' mental health indices have not been explored. The aim of this descriptive correlational study was to investigate the degree of satisfaction from interaction among ICU nursing personnel, as well as between ICU nursing personnel and physicians, and potential associations with ICU nursing personnel's anxiety symptoms. ⋯ Nursing personnel in Greek ICUs seem to be satisfied with the quality of relationships among them, as well as with physicians. Despite that anxiety symptoms associate with the degree of satisfaction from professional interaction, the latter may not be a significant indicator of ICU nurses' well-being. Further qualitative research is needed to identify mediating factors.
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Dimens Crit Care Nurs · Sep 2011
Multicenter StudyDevelopment of a modified early warning score using the electronic medical record.
The purpose of early warning scores is to help all nurses detect early deterioration in order to rescue patients from unexpected events, which arise from complications during the course of illness and recovery. This article describes one institution's work in developing a modified early warning score in conjunction with an electronic medical record to facilitate scoring and monitoring, in order to improve patient safety.
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Dimens Crit Care Nurs · Nov 2010
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyComparison of two pain scales for the assessment of pain in the ventilated adult patient.
The assessment of pain experienced by the patient requiring mechanical ventilation can be a challenge for critical care nurses. This study was conducted to assess the reliability and validity of two pain behavior assessment tools. ⋯ The findings suggest that both tools have adequate reliability and validity. Use of a pain behavior tool is one strategy to improve assessment of pain experienced by the mechanically ventilated adult patient who is unable to provide a self-report.