American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
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Management of acute coronary syndromes in elderly patients is poorly defined. ⋯ Functional decline in elderly patients with acute coronary syndromes is predictive of poor outcomes.
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Studies of family caregivers of the critically ill have mainly focused on the psychological impact of the patients' stay in the intensive care unit and related stress. Despite known associations between stress and physical health, limited attention has been paid to the need to promote and maintain physical health in these caregivers. ⋯ Health risk behaviors of family caregivers are associated with greater perceptions of burden and/or depressive symptoms but not with patients' care needs before admission to the intensive care unit.
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In order to measure anxiety in physically and cognitively debilitated patients, such as patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation, the use of reliable and valid instruments is recommended; however, these instruments should be short. ⋯ The 6-item version of the state subscale from the STAI-E6 shows satisfactory reliability and validity for Spanish patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation.
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Case Reports
Repeated scenario simulation to improve competency in critical care: a new approach for nursing education.
In Japan, nursing education is being reformed to improve nurses' competency. Interest in use of simulation-based education to increase nurses' competency is increasing. ⋯ Our new educational approach of using repeated scenario simulations and TAINS seemed not only to enhance individual nurses' technical skills in critical care nursing but also to improve their nontechnical skills somewhat.