American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
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Early enteral nutrition is recommended for patients in intensive care units, but nutrition provision is often hindered by a variety of unit-specific problems. ⋯ Implementing an enteral nutrition support protocol shortened the time to reach feeding goals. Jejunal feeding tubes were necessary in more than half of the patients, and with a jejunal feeding tube in place, feeding goals were reached rapidly.
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Vitamin D has immunomodulating properties. ⋯ Patients deficient in vitamin D within 30 days of hospital admission for severe sepsis or septic shock may be at increased risk for all-cause 30-day mortality.
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Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is a therapeutic technique used to support critically ill patients with acute renal failure in intensive care units. CRRT is preferred over hemodialysis for patients who cannot tolerate the rapid fluid and electrolyte shifts associated with hemodialysis because of their tenuous hemodynamic state. ⋯ This case study chronicles the successful mobilization of a patient undergoing CRRT. This experience suggests that CRRT patients who are appropriate candidates may be mobilized safely and therefore should not automatically be excluded from mobilization therapies.