Care Unit Nurses Research Articles

Evaluation of manometer use in manual ventilation of infants in neonatal intensive care units

Variations exist in the techniques used to perform manual ventilation in neonates and in the proficiency levels of nurses in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) who perform the procedure. This study was undertaken to determine (1) whether significant differences exist in nurses' ability to control prescribed peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) accurately when mamometers are used, as compared with when they are not used, during manual ventilation in NICU infants; and (2) whether the number of years of work experience nurses have in the NICU is related to manometer use and success in controlling prescribed PIP. The sample included 60 professional nurses whose experience ranged from 1 to 26 years. A statistically significant difference was found in nurses' ability to control PIP successfully when manometers were used as compared with when they were not used (t = 12.04, p = 0.001). Nurses with more experience tended to rely less on manometers to guide their manual ventilation techniques, but were also less accurate in controlling the delivery of PIP without the devices. We provide recommendations for clinical practice based on these findings.

Patient Education as a Quality Indicator in Critical Care: Ischemic Heart Disease—Recognition and Response

Medical critical care unit (MCCU) nurses at a VA medical center designed a quality assurance monitor for educating cardiac patients. Patients with a diagnosis of rule-out myocardial infarction are interviewed about their preadmission use of nitroglycerin and entry into emergency treatment facilities. The MCCU nurses teach a five-point "ischemic heart disease--recognition and response" lesson, and ascertain the patient's immediate level of understanding. If the patient returns to the MCCU at a later date, nurses record the appropriateness of his use of nitroglycerin and entry into emergency treatment facilities. Thus, both short- and long-term gains in patient knowledge are assessed. Solutions to problems encountered in the quality assurance monitor implementation process are discussed. Benefits of the project to patients, the nursing department, and other departments are identified. A sample monthly report and the monitor data collection tool illustrate the process. Future directions for patient education efforts in the MCCU are outlined.

Features of Lower-Cost Continuing Care Retirement Communities

Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) offer life-time long-term care guarantees to their contract members, but high entry and monthly fees can put membership beyond the reach of elderly persons with moderate income and assets. Annual cost per resident, which must be met by initial and monthly fees, consists of costs associated with land and buildings (depreciation, interest, mortgage reduction, and direct capital expenditures) and departmental expenditures, the cost of providing services to residents (food service, nursing care, administration, maintenance, and the like). The current study uses economic cost analysis to uncover factors associated with the cost of providing resident services. Analysis of annual departmental expenditures per resident reported by 132 CCRCs identified factors associated with lower cost, including low use of nursing care, larger size, location in areas with lower prices, and admission of non-contract patients to nursing care units. This information may be used to desi...

Israeli nurses in Intensive Cardiac Care Units (ICCUS): Stress, satisfaction and coping

Israeli nurses in Intensive Cardiac Care Units (ICCUS): Stress, satisfaction and coping

Reading a research report

Nurses in intensive care units are becoming more involved in reading, understanding and critically evaluating research reports. This activity is necessary in order to become aware of new knowledge in the specialty which has been created through systematic and rigorous investigations. They must be able to judge the quality not only of nursing research, but of medical, psychological and social research which is pertinent to the care of patients and relatives in intensive care units (1.C.U.s) or the staff who work in them. The ability to discuss with other professionals the merits and defects of research studies related to patient care is an expected part of the role of an experienced intensive care nurse as a member of the team. The professional development of nursing staff may be enhanced by reading, discussing and implementing in practice, the recommendations of research reports. It is however, useful to remember the statement made by the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (1983) that ‘the findings of research in nursing must not be accepted passively and uncritically but must be tested in both theory and practice, and replicated if necessary’. So, how can intensive care nurses participate in the critical scrutiny of a resarch report? Firstly they must have knowledge of the subject and of the research method and language which is used in the study. Secondly some criteria

MANPOWER FOR MENTAL HEALTH

MANPOWER FOR MENTAL HEALTH Alan I. Levenson CopyRight https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.60.7.1348-a Published Online: August 29, 2011

Nursing in a Space-Age Hospital

W HAT IS IT LIKE to be a nurse in a space-age hospital? We at Memorial Hospital of Long Beach, California, believe we know. This is such a modern hospital that we think it may well be up to date 50 years from now! In 1960, we opened our new sixstory structure which cost $10,800,000 to build and equip. When we started planning for this new hospital, we had innovations in mind. We wanted a postsurgery nursing care unit, seven-foot beds which could be adjusted by pressing an electric switch, equipment made of new plastic materials, procedures to minimize staphylococcus infections, colorful uniforms, and new personnel who might be known as representatives. Before we moved our entire staff and patients from Old Seaside Memorial Hospital to this new building, we planned for many changes. Many of our innovations not only make hospital life easier for the patient, but also permit him to do for himself things that in so many hospitals consume hours of nursing staff's time. This is a hospital in which patient comfort and efficiency not only are reconciled, but actually contribute to one another! Consequently, we are able to carry out our concept of nursing in a thorough, conscientious way. That concept is constant, patient-centered care. The postsurgery unit here is a refinement of the original recovery room. It provides services more complex than merely the caring for postoperative patients during recovery from general anesthesia. The postsurgery unit is divided into a postanesthesia section and an intensive surgical care section. The postanesthesia section functions on a 24-hour basis. The patient is delivered to this section from the operating room by the anesthesiologist, who reports to the nurse the condition of the patient and the clinical changes to be observed and reported. Postoperative orders are given. The nurse telephones a report to the Patient Information Desk when the patient is admitted, and hourly thereafter. She makes this re-