Resuscitation
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Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has been used in hospitals for approximately 40 years. Nurses are generally the first responders to a cardiac arrest and initiate basic life support while waiting for the advanced cardiac life support team to arrive. ⋯ Attitudes of individual nurses may influence the speed and level of involvement in true emergency situations. This paper uses the theories of reasoned action and planned behaviour to examine some behavioural issues with CPR involvement.
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The outcome from in-hospital cardiac arrest has improved little since the implementation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation 40 years ago. Early defibrillation improves survival following ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia. The emergence of automatic external defibrillators and advisory defibrillators has been heralded as the answer to defibrillation delays in-hospital. ⋯ There is limited primary research evaluating automatic external defibrillators in-hospital. Manual defibrillators remain the most commonly used device for in-hospital defibrillation. Automated external defibrillators offer an alternative to manual defibrillation providing they have a screen and manual override capability, and the technology for pacing is close to hand. For in-hospital automatic external defibrillator programmes to be effective a change in nursing philosophy must occur, and defibrillation must become an expected rather than an extended nursing role.
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The outcome from in-hospital cardiac arrest has improved little since the implementation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation 40 years ago. Early defibrillation improves survival following ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia. The emergence of automatic external defibrillators and advisory defibrillators has been heralded as the answer to defibrillation delays in-hospital. ⋯ There is limited primary research evaluating automatic external defibrillators in-hospital. Manual defibrillators remain the most commonly used device for in-hospital defibrillation. Automated external defibrillators offer an alternative to manual defibrillation providing they have a screen and manual override capability, and the technology for pacing is close to hand. For in-hospital automatic external defibrillator programmes to be effective a change in nursing philosophy must occur, and defibrillation must become an expected rather than an extended nursing role.
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Very little is known about the dying process and in particular the state of the human mind at the end of life. Cardiac arrest is the final step in the dying process irrespective of cause, and is also the closest physiological model of the dying process. Recent studies in cardiac arrest survivors have indicated that although the majority of cardiac arrest survivors have no memory recall from the event, nevertheless approximately 10% develop memories that are consistent with typical near death experiences. ⋯ This has led to much interest as regards the potential implications for the study of consciousness and its relationship with the brain, which still remains an enigma. In this article, we will review published research examining brain physiology and function during cardiac arrest as well as its potential relationship with near death experiences during this time. Finally, we will explore the contribution that near death experiences during cardiac arrest may make to the wider understanding of human consciousness.