Many clinicians are using this mechanical ventilation mode to help reduce lung damage, pneumonia, and other complications of ventilation. Find out how it works, when it’s indicated, how…
Children who take an asthma drug are more likely to be prescribed an antibiotic according to a study in Pediatrics. The authors state that focusing efforts to reduce…
Exercise training reduces the risk for subsequent all-cause mortality or all-cause hospitalization in women by 26%, compared with 10% in men, according to a study in JACC: Heart…
Unlike traditional vital signs, capnography yields clear, specific information about the patient’s condition and quickly alerts you to life-threatening disturbances.
Respiratory failure is one of the most common reasons for admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and a common comorbidity in patients admitted for acute care. What’s…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released infection prevention and control recommendations related to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). As of July 12, no…
On June 7, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated guidelines for evaluating severe respiratory illness associated with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Read…
Do you routinely instill normal saline solution into endotracheal tubes before suctioning? Use only the Glasgow Coma Scale for neurologic assessment? Evidence on these and other sacred cows…
Many nurses find chest tube care intimidating—but it doesn’t have to be. Once you understand the basics, you can be confident when caring for patients who have chest…
Learn how one hospital improved communication between nurses and intubated patients through the use of an algorithm, new communication devices, and a focused communications course for nurses.
For patients on mechanical ventilators, daily sedation cessation can decrease ventilator, ICU, and hospital days. Careful use of safety screens is crucial for patient safety and successful weaning.
Mrs. Glenn, a 72-year-old female on a medical-surgical floor, was hospitalized 3 days ago for pneumonia. Since her admission, she has been on continuous pulse oximetry and is…
When a dehydrated patient falls into a stupor and her vital signs head south, a rapid response team can help unit nurses stabilize her quickly – and avoid…
Pulmonary embolism (PE) kills about 25% of those it strikes. This article explains how deep vein thrombosis (DVT) sets the stage for PE and describes how to assess,…
Pulmonary embolism (PE) kills about 25% of those it strikes. This article explains how deep vein thrombosis (DVT) sets the stage for PE and describes how to assess,…
If you suspect your workplace culture is “ill,” assessment is a crucial first step. Using an established assessment tool can help ensure more thorough data collection.
Many experts think a flu pandemic (perhaps the swine flu) is inevitable, underscoring the need for all healthcare workers to learn how to use respirators properly.
On Sept. 30, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Adempas (riociguat) to treat adults with two forms of pulmonary hypertension. Read more.
On July 23, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium bromide) for the long-term maintenance treatment of bronchospasm in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary…
On April 27, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first medical device that uses radiofrequency energy to treat severe and persistent asthma in adults. The Alair…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved roflumilast, an oral drug that reduces exacerbations from severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Read more at http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm244989.htm
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Xalkori (crizotinib) to treat patients with late-stage non-small cell lung cancers who express the abnormal anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)…
On April 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Zykadia for patients with a certain type of late-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Read more.
On Dec. 19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration allowed marketing of the Bio-Seal Lung Biopsy Tract Plug System, a device that seals punctures left by biopsies performed…
“Something’s wrong. We have to fix it quickly!” All of our training and experiences as nurses, such as my almost 30 years as a hospital-based RN, lead us…
According to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine, administering a neuromuscular blocking agent for 48 hours at the onset of severe Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome…
On Aug. 8, The Joint Commission released the Sentinel Event Alert, “Safe use of opioids in hospitals.” The Alert warns of opioid-induced respirator depression and offers strategies for…
Oversight not needed As a recent graduate of a nurse practitioner (NP) program, I appreciated your article “Retail-based clinics: New option for nurses” in the March issue. You…
Once treated only in high-acuity settings, patients with chest tubes now receive care in inpatient medical-surgical floors, outpatient procedural areas (such as interventional radiology), and other settings. More…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published information about Middle East Respiratory System (MERS) for healthcare professionals. The information includes interim guidance, case definitions, and…
In a study of mice, scientists found that a gene associated with emphysema can also cause the development of lung cancer not related to smoking. Read more.
Five years after having acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), survivors still had not recovered to normal physical function, and many other physical and psychological problems persisted or developed…
Tuberculosis (TB) is a global health problem. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that one third of the world’s population is infected with TB, and…
Although it’s not suitable for all patients, noninvasive positive pressure ventilation reduces many of the risks associated with mechanical ventilation.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced that over-the-counter (OTC) asthma inhalers containing chloroflouorocarbons (CFCs) will no longer be made or sold after Dec. 31, 2011, because…
On April 13, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that seven metered-dose inhalers used for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease will gradually be removed from the…
Standard of care in the ICU – or object of overuse, abuse, and misuse? The authors explain why they believe PA catheter use may harm more critically ill…
Despite recent gains in treating pulmonary arterial hypertension, a cure is a long way off. Diagnosis and therapy can be tricky, and prognosis remains poor. Still, there are…
American Nurse Today…Online reported on the nationwide pertussis, or whooping cough, outbreak in June. Unfortunately, four months later, the updated news is not good. In California, where the…
The power shuts down…the phones go dead…an explosion at a nearby nuclear power plant sends a dozen critically injured victims to your hospital. What actions should you take?…
The author’s study found that when implemented together as a bundle, three autonomous nursing interventions can dramatically lower ventilatorassociated pneumonia rates in mechanically ventilated patients.
A team approach reduces rates of major complications for complex spinal reconstructive surgery by two thirds, according to a report in Spine Deformity. The three main features are:…
I.V. fluids should help a dehydrated patient, but for one with a history of atrial fibrillation and coronary artery disease, they could contribute to pulmonary edema. For Grace…
A nurse working in the intensive care unit administers 100 mg of diazepam I.V. as ordered by the new resident. Although she checks on the patient often and…
Which sedation strategy for ICU patients on mechanical ventilation can help mitigate post-intensive care syndrome? a. Keep the patient heavily sedated. b. Use the lightest level of sedation…
Which of the following is an advantage of a dry-suction chest drainage system? a. Lower levels of suction pressure b. Variable bubbling, which indicates proper functioning c. A…
For a patient receiving high-dose opioids, frequent monitoring of the sedation level and quick intervention when that level increases stops respiratory depression from claiming another victim.
According to Sawyer and colleagues, only 11% of patients who experience a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) outside of the hospital will survive to discharge. When it occurs in…
A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that treatment with a leukotriene-receptor antagonist (LTRA) was as effective as inhaled glucocorticoid therapy as first-line controller therapy…
A Phase II study found that patients with ACE inhibitor-induced angioedema who received ecallantide were more likely to be discharged sooner than those treated with antihistamines and steroids.…
According to a study in JAMA, adding thrombolytics to conventional approaches when treating patients with sudden-onset pulmonary embolism is associated with 47% fewer deaths than using standard anticoagulant…
A study in Respirology has found that the negative effects of water pipe (such as Hookah) smoking on pulmonary function are similar to that seen in those who…
Good news for younger women taking estrogen Estrogen therapy may have cardioprotective effects for women who start taking it in their 50s. A study from the Women’s Health…
CDC recommends HIV screening for everyone New recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) call for routine human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening for all patients…
Low-carb diets don’t affect cardiac risk Although diets low in carbohydrates and high in fats and proteins have been popular for the last few years, some experts have…
CDC recommends annual flu shots for children ages 2 to 4 For the first time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is endorsing yearly flu shots…
Patients lose when nurse staffing is insufficient Heavy workloads and insufficient staffing affect patient care, according to about 2,000 nurses surveyed worldwide by the International Council of Nurses…
Each year, emergency departments see about 1.5 million patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Update your knowledge of the disease and its treatment.
Although time to death after withdrawal of mechanical ventilation varies widely, the majority of patients die within 24 hours according to an article in the August 2010 edition…
In a wide variety of settings, nurses are increasingly likely to care for patients on mechanical ventilators. Let’s assume you’re one of them. What do you need to…
To promote positive outcomes in patients with trach tubes, nurses need to stay up-to-date on best practices and develop and maintain the necessary skills.
A chronic inflammatory airway disorder, asthma is marked by airway hyperresponsiveness with recurrent episodes of wheezing, coughing, tightness of the chest, and shortness of breath. Typically, these episodes…
To survive acute lung injury, patients need all the help they can get. High-frequency oscillatory ventillation protects their lungs by maintaining a constant mean airway pressure.
Research presented at the 241st National Meeting of the American Chemical Society found that US troops in Iraq breath air that “often is polluted with dust and other…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has new safety requirements for long-acting beta-agonists used to treat asthma. Read the requirements at http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm200776.htm.,/p>
In the ever-escalating war between bacteria and human beings, some of the bugs are outsmarting us. Here’s what you need to know about antibiotic therapy to help reduce…
Mechanical ventilation can cause serious complicattions-among them lung injury, pneumonia, and multisystemic disorders. Early weaning reduces these risks. This content is for Digital Access and Print Plus subscribers…
In asthma, airway inflammation leads to airway obstruction, which may be chronic or arise as an acute symptom exacerbation. Asthma signs and symptoms range from mild to severe…
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has an insidious onset and causes disabling symptoms. This article discusses its risk factors, pathophysiology, assessment, interventions, and nursing management.
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