American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Intensive care diaries and relatives' symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder after critical illness: a pilot study.
Relatives of patients recovering from critical illness are at risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder. ⋯ Provision of a diary may help psychological recovery in patients' families after critical illness.
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Observational studies have consistently revealed wide variation in nutritional practices across intensive care units and indicated that the provision of adequate nutrition to critically ill patients is suboptimal. To date, the potential role of critical care nurses in implementing nutritional guideline recommendations and improving nutritional therapy has received little consideration. ⋯ Future research and quality improvement strategies are required to correct these deficits and successfully empower nurses to become nutritional champions at the bedside. Using nurses as agents of change will help standardize nutritional practices and ensure that critically ill patients are optimally fed.
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To describe the relationships among sedation, stability in physiological status, and comfort during a 24-hour period in patients receiving mechanical ventilation. ⋯ Level of sedation most likely does not affect the stability of physiological status but does have an effect on comfort.
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Sociodemographic variables that are predictors of rehospitalization for heart failure may better inform hospital discharge strategies. ⋯ The absence of a partner was predictive of readmission in all patients. Older patients with heart failure who were discharged to a skilled nursing facility had lower readmission rates. The effect of partner and disposition status may suggest a proxy for social support. Strategies to provide social support during discharge planning may have an effect on hospital readmission rates.