American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Serum Albumin Level at Intensive Care Unit Admission and Delirium Duration and Severity in Critically Ill Adults.
Hypoalbuminemia has been associated with an increased risk of in-hospital delirium. However, the relationship between serum albumin levels and the duration and severity of delirium is not well defined. ⋯ In patients with delirium, higher albumin levels were associated with shorter hospital stays but not with delirium duration or severity.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of Natural Sound Therapy on Pain and Agitation Induced by Endotracheal Suctioning: A Real-World Study.
Music therapy has been used as a complementary intervention to provide synergistic analgesia for various procedures. ⋯ In this real-world study, natural sound therapy was part of a holistic bundle of interventions used to reduce pain and agitation in surgical intensive care unit patients during endotracheal suctioning.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Impact of Virtual Reality Simulation on New Nurses' Assessment of Pediatric Respiratory Distress.
Children often experience respiratory illnesses requiring bedside nurses skilled in recognizing respiratory decompensation. Historically, recognizing respiratory distress has relied on teaching during direct patient care. Virtual reality simulation may accelerate such recognition among novice nurses. ⋯ Implementation of a virtual reality-based training curriculum was associated with improved recognition of pediatric respiratory distress, impending respiratory failure, and altered mental status at 3 and 6 months compared with standard training approaches. Virtual reality may offer a new approach to nurse orientation to enhance training in pediatrics-specific assessment skills.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Fasting Versus a Heart-Healthy Diet Before Cardiac Catheterization: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Patients undergoing cardiac catheterization are ordered to take nothing by mouth after midnight before their procedure with no evidence to support this practice. ⋯ Allowing patients to eat before elective cardiac catheterization posed no safety risk and benefited patient satisfaction and overall care. The results of this study may help identify best practice for allowing patients to eat before elective procedures using conscious sedation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Self-Care Mental Health App Intervention for Post-Intensive Care Syndrome-Family: A Randomized Pilot Study.
Post-intensive care syndrome-family (PICS-F) is a constellation of adverse psychological symptoms experienced by family members of critically ill patients during and after acute illness. Cognitive behavioral therapy delivered using smartphone technology is a novel approach for PICS-F symptom self-management. ⋯ Delivery of cognitive behavioral therapy to family members of critically ill patients via a smartphone app shows some efficacy in reducing PICS-F symptoms.