American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
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Overwhelmed family decision makers of chronically critically ill patients must comprehend vital information to make complex treatment decisions that are consistent with patients' preferences. Exploration of informational coping styles of family decision makers may yield evidence for tailored communication practices supporting the psychological and informational needs of family decision makers. ⋯ Family decision makers classified as monitors were at higher risk for depression than were those who seem to avoid information. Targeting monitors with additional psychological and informational support may mitigate their psychological impairment.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Racial differences in women's prodromal and acute symptoms of myocardial infarction.
Minority women, especially black and Hispanic women, have higher rates of coronary heart disease and resulting disability and death than do white women. A lack of knowledge of minority women's symptoms of coronary heart disease may contribute to these disparities. ⋯ Prodromal and acute symptoms of myocardial infarction differed significantly according to race. Racial descriptions of women's prodromal and acute symptoms should assist providers in interpreting women's symptoms.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Clinical predictors of duration of action of cisatracurium and rocuronium administered long-term.
The duration of action of neuromuscular blocking drugs (NBDs) varies between individuals and even within individuals in different settings. ⋯ Duration of NBD treatment is strongly predictive of the duration of action of rocuronium, and body temperature is predictive of the duration of action of cisatracurium. These data may help decrease the incidence of drug-induced muscle weakness in recovery rooms and surgical intensive care units, particularly if neuromuscular transmission monitoring is not available.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Fecal containment in bedridden patients: economic impact of 2 commercial bowel catheter systems.
Fecal contamination is a major challenge in patients in acute/critical care settings that is associated with increased cost of care and supplies and with development of pressure ulcers, incontinence dermatitis, skin and soft tissue infections, and urinary tract infections. ⋯ Catheter A may be more cost-effective than catheter B because it requires fewer unscheduled linen changes per patient day.
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Multicenter Study
Medical end-of-life decisions: experiences and attitudes of Belgian pediatric intensive care nurses.
To investigate Belgian pediatric intensive care nurses' involvement in and attitudes toward medical end-of-life decisions with a possible or certain life-shortening effect. ⋯ Belgian pediatric intensive care nurses are often involved in carrying out medical end-of-life decisions, including administration of life-ending drugs, whereas their participation in decision making is more limited. Most think that the current euthanasia law should be extended to minors so that administering life-ending drugs would be possible for terminally ill children in specific circumstances.