ORL-head and neck nursing : official journal of the Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head-Neck Nurses
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Over a period of 5000 years, dramatic changes have occurred in airway management, tracheotomy procedure terminology, indications, techniques, instruments, settings where procedures are performed, tube design and patient outcomes. Specialized knowledge and skills necessary to safely care for tracheostomy patients and to provide effective respiratory resuscitation are reviewed. The purpose of this paper is to document the history of the tracheotomy as a backdrop for understanding patient management. Recommendations for staff education regarding emergency ventilation of the tracheostomy patient are presented.
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Caregiving is an important component in the management of patients with a tracheostomy or laryngectomy. The purpose of this integrative research literature review was to gain a better understanding of the impact of caregiving for adults and children with laryngectomy or tracheostomy on the patient, the family, and the caregiver. ⋯ Despite the significance of the caregiving role, few studies have addressed caregiving, and those that have are primarily descriptive. Studies are needed that develop and test interventions to assist caregivers in adaptation to their role, identification of methods of decreasing caregiver burden and strain, and coordination of resources to support patients and caregivers of patients with tracheostomies and laryngectomies.
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Comparative Study
Emergency ventilation of the tracheostomy patient, Part I: Knowledge assessment of healthcare professionals.
A nurse-driven investigation, using a convenience sample and comparative descriptive design, was conducted within a large medical center to identify healthcare professionals' (N=885) knowledge of emergency ventilation strategies for the tracheostomy patient. Registered nurses and physicians comprised the majority of survey respondents (n=587) who answered a three-item questionnaire to assess specific knowledge. ⋯ Less than half of nurses and physicians in this sample were able to answer correctly all three questions asked regarding emergency strategies. Recommendations address this knowledge deficit.