Journal of clinical nursing
-
We aimed to synthesise evidence from published literature on non-invasive ventilation to inform nurses involved in the clinical management of non-invasive ventilation in the emergency department. ⋯ Monitoring of non-invasive ventilation should focus on assessment of response to treatment, respiratory and haemodynamic stability, patient comfort and presence of air leaks. Complications are related to mask-fit and high air flows; serious complications are few and occur infrequently. The use of non-invasive ventilation has resource implications that must be considered to provide effective and safe management in the emergency department.
-
To review the literature and identify opportunities for nutritional practice improvement in the critically ill and opportunities to improve nurses' knowledge relating to enteral feeding. ⋯ This review supports the multi-disciplinary development and implementation of an evidence-based enteral feeding protocol in intensive care units as a strategy to improve adequacy of nutritional intake. Critical care nurses are well placed to improve this process.
-
To identify prescription drugs that require dosage adjustment or monitoring in patients who quit smoking and to provide recommendations for dosage adjustment based on available evidence. ⋯ When patients stop smoking, providers should carefully review prescribed drug regimens and adjust or monitor drugs whose metabolism is affected by smoking cessation. This is particularly important for patients who abruptly stop smoking due to hospitalisation and for older patients who are likely to be taking multiple medications.
-
This paper presents the results of a systematic review examining the practical information needs of informal caregivers providing home-based palliative and end-of-life care to people with advanced cancer. ⋯ Enhanced access to professional advice represents a potentially effective method of increasing carers' confidence in their ability to undertake practical aspects of home-based care. Evidence suggests that nurses and other health providers may better assist home-based carers by providing the information and skills-training necessary to facilitate this. This may necessitate the involvement of carers in the design and testing of new educational interventions.