The American journal of nursing
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Caregivers need certain knowledge and skills both to provide the best possible care and to protect their own well-being.
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Communicating about care preferences can improve the well-being of caregivers and care recipients.
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Nurses use a variety of methods to cool critically ill patients, even though there are no guidelines for the treatment of temperature elevation in this population. In order to determine whether physical methods of antipyresis, such as the application of cooling blankets, are appropriate for use in the ICU, and if so which methods are best, the authors conducted a literature review. ⋯ A literature review examines external cooling methods for use in the ICU. The findings raise some doubts.
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Dysphagia, the impairment of any part of the swallowing process, increases the risk of aspiration. Dysphagia and aspiration are associated with the development of aspiration pneumonia. ⋯ This article discusses best practices for assessment and prevention of aspiration among older adults who are being hand-fed or fed by tube. To view an accompanying online video, go to http://links.lww.com/A226.