Hematologic and Oncologic Emergencies
This article reviews both hematologic and oncologic emergencies that may be seen in the intensive care setting. Hematologic emergencies, including autoimmune hemolytic anemia, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, hemolytic uremic syndrome, and disseminated intravascular coagulation, as well as oncologic emergencies including tumor lysis syndrome, superior vena cava syndrome, and cardiac tamponade secondary to metastatic disease, are discussed in detail. This review focuses on the pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of each entity. (Source: Critical Care Nursing Quarterly)
Source: Critical Care Nursing Quarterly - November 24, 2022 Category: Nursing Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Toxicological Emergencies
Poisoning, drug overdose, and adverse drug effects continue to be a common encounter, especially in the intensive care unit (ICU). Patients are often critically ill or have a potential to rapidly deteriorate and warrant ICU admission. Adults suffering from overdoses rarely give a complete and accurate description of the quantity or type of medications ingested. In most adult cases, multiple substances are involved. A tentative diagnosis in most overdose and poisoning cases can be made by physical examination and simple laboratory tests (electrolyte panel, creatinine, serum osmolarity, urinalysis, etc). Supportive care, wit...
Source: Critical Care Nursing Quarterly - November 24, 2022 Category: Nursing Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Obstetric Emergencies
Human gestation and birthing result in many deviations from usual physiology that are nonetheless normal to be seen. However, on occasion, certain complications in the obstetric patient can be life-threatening to both mother and fetus. Timely recognition of these disorders and allocation of the appropriate resources are especially important. These conditions often require an intensive care unit admission for closer monitoring and supportive care. They can affect an array of physiological systems and can lead to significant morbidity. Such complications are discussed in greater detail in this article. (Source: Critical Care Nursing Quarterly)
Source: Critical Care Nursing Quarterly - November 24, 2022 Category: Nursing Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Surgical Emergencies in the ICU
Surgical emergencies are common in the critical care setting and require prompt diagnosis and management. Here, we discuss some of the surgical emergencies involving the gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, and genitourinary sites. In addition, foreign body aspiration and necrotizing soft-tissue infections have been elaborated. Clinicians should be aware of the risk factors, keys examination findings, diagnostic modalities, and medical as well as surgical treatment options for these potentially fatal illnesses. (Source: Critical Care Nursing Quarterly)
Source: Critical Care Nursing Quarterly - November 24, 2022 Category: Nursing Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Gastrointestinal Emergencies in the ICU
This article details the epidemiology/etiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic assessment, and management of the following GI emergencies: upper and lower GI bleed, acute pancreatitis, and ascending cholangitis. (Source: Critical Care Nursing Quarterly)
Source: Critical Care Nursing Quarterly - November 24, 2022 Category: Nursing Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Neurological Emergencies in the Intensive Care Unit
Neurological emergencies carry significant morbidity and mortality, and it is necessary to have a multidisciplinary approach involving the emergency physician, the neurologist, the intensivist, and the critical care nursing staff. These disorders can be broadly divided into noninfectious and infectious etiologies. In this article, we review a few of the neurological emergencies that present to the neurological intensive unit, with emphasis on convulsive status epileptics, myasthenia gravis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, meningitis, encephalitis, and brain abscess. (Source: Critical Care Nursing Quarterly)
Source: Critical Care Nursing Quarterly - November 24, 2022 Category: Nursing Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Nontraumatic Neurosurgical Emergencies
This article presents an overview of commonly seen nontraumatic neurosurgical emergencies. Each section presents key facets of presentation, initial workup, management, and role of surgical intervention. (Source: Critical Care Nursing Quarterly)
Source: Critical Care Nursing Quarterly - November 24, 2022 Category: Nursing Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Foreword
No abstract available (Source: Critical Care Nursing Quarterly)
Source: Critical Care Nursing Quarterly - November 24, 2022 Category: Nursing Tags: Foreword Source Type: research
The Future of Assessing Frailty in the Patient With Advanced Heart Failure: A Review of Current Literature
This article discusses the inconsistent research studies and the need for a valid and reliable tool to assess for frailty. It is important that nurse leaders and those working with heart failure patients determine the best practice guidelines for assessing frailty. (Source: Critical Care Nursing Quarterly)
Source: Critical Care Nursing Quarterly - August 23, 2022 Category: Nursing Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
A Nursing Approach to Improving Critical Care Compliance With Vital Signs and Neurological Assessments in Post-IV-Alteplase Stroke Patients
Ischemic stroke represents 87% of all strokes. As global initiatives move forward with stroke care, health care providers and institutions will be called on to deliver the most current evidence-based care. The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) estimates that 795 000 strokes occur each year; 610 000 are new strokes, and 185 000 are recurrent strokes. Eighty-seven percent are ischemic strokes; the overall mortality rate from stroke was 273 000, which makes stroke the fifth leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability in the United States. Stroke costs the United States an estimate...
Source: Critical Care Nursing Quarterly - August 23, 2022 Category: Nursing Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Air-Assisted Technology: A Quality Endeavor to Reduce Employee Injury and Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries
This article describes the journey taken, the collaboration of 2-unit based councils, and the successful implementation of an air-assisted moving, lifting, and transferring system at a large level 1 quaternary tertiary intercity hospital. (Source: Critical Care Nursing Quarterly)
Source: Critical Care Nursing Quarterly - August 23, 2022 Category: Nursing Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
The Evolution of Palliative Medicine in Intensive Care
Supportive, or palliative, care has moved into medicine's mainstream with well-known and studied benefits but continues to be inadequately utilized in many health care environments particularly intensive care units (ICUs). With diverse patient populations in the various ICU settings, the supportive care team must adapt and mold their goals-of-care discussions and relationship building based on the ICU culture and individuals involved. Despite the differences in disease processes, early supportive care involvement in the ICU provides much needed emotional support and symptom management to patients and families in addition t...
Source: Critical Care Nursing Quarterly - August 23, 2022 Category: Nursing Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
The Challenges of Managing Pain in the Intensive Care Unit
This article reviews the types and characteristics of pain, the best practice guidelines, and shares a pathway for the best management of a patient's pain. (Source: Critical Care Nursing Quarterly)
Source: Critical Care Nursing Quarterly - August 23, 2022 Category: Nursing Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Evidence-Based Approach to Decrease Incidence of Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries
This article discusses how a group of nurses from various areas of the hospital came together to heighten awareness of skin care and provided frontline education to peers. Through the use of structured programs using both a nationally known Wound Associate treatment program and Lean methodology, the nurses were able to work through processes and barriers and successfully decrease the incidence of HAPI in this academic medical center. (Source: Critical Care Nursing Quarterly)
Source: Critical Care Nursing Quarterly - August 23, 2022 Category: Nursing Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Using an Institute Model to Reduce the Incidence of Venous Thromboembolism Within a Large Hospital System
Internal benchmarking showed that the Orthopedic Institute had an above average rate of venous thromboembolism (VTE) along with other institutes. The Orthopedic VTE Quality Team was assigned to investigate opportunities for improvement to share with other institutes. To investigate the issues and barriers to the administration of chemical and mechanical VTE prophylaxis, data collection included real-time point prevalence study, physician and nursing surveys, and electronic medical record audits. The results of the data collection indicated inconsistencies in nursing and patient care. Therefore a VTE policy and VTE educatio...
Source: Critical Care Nursing Quarterly - August 23, 2022 Category: Nursing Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
