Utgångspunkten för denna litteraturstudie är att ventilatorassocierad pneumoni (VAP) går att förebygga. Syftet med detta arbete var att kartlägga olika evidensbaserade munvårdsmetoder som används av intensivvårdssjuksköterskor för att förebygga VAP hos ventilatorbehandlade patienter. Syftet var också att belysa vilka faktorer som påverkar intensivvårdssjuksköterskans utförande av evidensbaserad munvård till ventilatorbehandlade patienter. Studien utfördes som en systematisk litteraturstudie. Till resultatet användes 16 vetenskapliga artiklar. För att kunna bedöma artiklarnas vetenskapliga kvalitet granskades artiklarna utifrån en modifierad granskningsmall. Samtliga artiklar fick höga kvalitetspoäng, vilket innebär hög vetenskaplig relevans. Resultatet av litteraturstudien visar att i flera av de evidensbaserade munvårdsprotokoll som publicerats den senaste tiden finns några återkommande punkter. Dessa punkter är; bedömning av munhålans status, tandborstning med barntandborste, munsköljmedel och att munnen fuktas med ett intervall av två till sex timmar. Flera faktorer påverkar intensivvårdssjuksköterskans utförande av evidensbaserad munvård. Genom att införa ett evidensbaserat munvårdsprotokoll för ventilatorbehandlade intensivvårdspatienter och ge personalen utbildning i munvård kan incidensen av VAP minska. Resultatet visar också att generellt sett är kunskapsnivån låg hos intensivvårdssjuksköterskor gällande förebyggande åtgärder för att förhindra VAP. Om sjuksköterskan anser att hon/han har tid att utföra munvård blir resultatet av högre kvalitet och hon/han upplever också åtgärden som mindre obehaglig. Detta innebär att försök att förbättra omvårdnaden och därmed minska antalet vårdrelaterade infektioner även är en organisatorisk fråga.

Introdução: No âmbito da assistência ao paciente crítico, ainda persiste uma intensa e controversa discussão acerca da dificuldade da manutenção da normoglicemia, especialmente a fim de evitar episódios hipoglicêmicos. A hipoglicemia consiste em importante evento adverso e fator limitante para o controle glicêmico (CG) ideal. Objetivo: Este trabalho teve por objetivo analisar a hipoglicemia e os fatores associados em pacientes críticos. Método: Coorte retrospectiva conduzida com pacientes críticos internados nas unidades de terapia intensiva, e clínica semi-intensiva do Hospital Universitário da Universidade de São Paulo. A amostra foi composta por 106 adultos, que apresentaram CG, por, pelo menos, 48 h, e cujo seguimento foi de 72 h. A variável dependente foi hipoglicemia (70mg/dl) e independentes foram idade, dieta, uso de insulina, catecolaminas, hemodiálise, carga de trabalho de enfermagem e SAPSII. Na análise dos dados utilizaram-se os testes t de student, Exato de Fisher e regressão logística, com significância de p 0,05. Resultados: A incidência de hipoglicemia 70mg/dl foi de 14,2%. A média de idade foi 63,3 anos, com internação clínica em 67% dos casos, cerca de 40% dos pacientes tinham diabetes mellitus 39% insuficiência renal e 8% insuficiência hepática. A hipoglicemia foi associada a média da glicemia (p=0,013) variabilidade glicêmica (p=0,000), uso de catecolaminas (p=0,040), óbito na UTI (p=0,008). Foram fatores de risco a ausência de dieta via oral, OR 5,11; IC 1,04 -25,10, e a realização de hemodiálise OR 4,28; IC 1,16-15,76. O intervalo de medida glicêmica mais frequente foi de 6/6h, com poucas medidas em horários de troca de turno de trabalho e no período das 4 h às 7 h. A correlação entre medidas glicêmicas prescritas e realizadas foi de 0,880 (p=0,000). Conclusão: A hipoglicemia persiste como evento adverso no contexto das unidades críticas. A prescrição do CG, com maior ênfase na monitorização nos grupos de risco, ou seja, nos pacientes submetidos a hemodiálise e aqueles que não recebem dieta VO, pode ajudar a prevenir episódios hipoglicêmicos / Introduction: Within the context of critical patients care, there remains an intense and controversial discussion over the difficulty of maintaining normoglycemia, especially to avoid hypoglycemic episodes. Hypoglycemia is an important adverse event and a limiting factor for an ideal glycemic control (GC). Objective: This study aimed to analyze the factors associated to hypoglycemia in critically ill patients. Methods: Retrospective cohort study conducted in critically ill patients from intensive and semi-intensive care units, of the University Hospital University of São Paulo. The sample consisted of 106 adults who had GC, for at least 48 h, and whose follow-up was 72 h. The dependent variable was hypoglycemia (70mg / dl) and independent variables were age, diet, insulin, catecholamines, hemodialysis, nursing workload and SAPSII. In the data analysis we used Students t and Fishers Exact tests and logistic regression, with significance of p 0,05. Results: The incidence of hypoglycemia 70mg / dl was 14.2%. The average age was 63.3 years, 67% were clinical patients, about 40% had diabetes mellitus, 39% had renal failure and 8% liver failure. Hypoglycemia was associated with mean blood glucose (p = 0.013) glycemic variability (p = 0.000), use of catecholamines (p = 0.040), and death in the ICU (p = 0.008). Risk factors were the absence of oral diet, OR 5.11; CI 1.04 -25.10, and hemodialysis OR 4.28; CI 1.16 to 15.76. The most frequent range of glucose measurement was 6 / 6 h, with few readings in the hours of the nursing work shift change, and from 4 h to 7 h am. The correlation between prescribed and performed glucose measurements was 0.880 (p = 0.000). Conclusion: Hypoglycemia persists as an adverse event in the context of critical units. Prescription of GC, with greater emphasis on monitoring in risk groups, namely, patients undergoing hemodialysis and those not receiving VO diet, can help prevent hypoglycemic episodes

Introdução: A assistência hospitalar a pacientes portadores de queimaduras é altamente dispendiosa devido aos recursos humanos, materiais e estruturais necessários à sua viabilização. O conhecimento financeiro relativo a essa temática ainda é escasso, especialmente no que tange aos custos dos procedimentos executados por profissionais de enfermagem a pacientes, grandes queimados, em condições críticas. Objetivo: Identificar o custo direto médio (CDM) dos procedimentos realizados, com maior frequência, por profissionais de enfermagem, a pacientes grandes queimados internados em uma Unidade de Terapia Intensiva de Queimaduras (UTIQ). Método: Esta pesquisa quantitativa, exploratório-descritiva, do tipo estudo de caso único, foi conduzida na UTIQ da Unidade de Queimaduras do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo. O CDM foi calculado multiplicando-se o tempo (cronometrado) despendido por profissionais de enfermagem na execução dos procedimentos, objeto de estudo, pelo custo unitário da mão de obra direta, somando-se ao custo dos materiais e soluções/medicamentos. Para a realização dos cálculos utilizou-se a moeda brasileira (R$). Resultados: A partir de 1354 observações, relativas a 12 procedimentos frequentemente realizados na UTIQ, obteve-se o CDM de R$ 1,88 (DP=1,04) para controle dos sinais vitais; R$ 28,78 (DP=69,74) para administração de medicamentos via intravenosa; R$ 16,97 (DP=7,92) para mensuração de diurese; R$ 2,68 (DP=1,20) para verificação de glicemia capilar; R$ 6,71(DP=2,20) para administração de medicamentos via sonda nasoenteral; R$ 50,07 (DP=11,89) para higiene íntima no leito; R$ 3,64 (DP=2,01) para auxílio alimentação; R$ 55,88 (DP=18,98) para banho no leito/arrumação da cama; R$ 287,11 (DP=372,87) para curativo; R$ 6,65 (DP=2,09) para higiene oral; R$ 3,13 (DP=1,08) para administração de medicamentos via oral e R$ 8,51 (DP=1,79) para administração de medicamentos via subcutânea. Conclusão: A apuração dos custos dos recursos consumidos nos procedimentos requeridos pelos pacientes, grandes queimados, em UTI, pode fundamentar as tomadas de decisão gerenciais subsidiando a sua eficiência alocativa, evitando a ocorrência de desperdícios e, quando possível, indicando estratégias de contenção/minimização de custos sem prejuízos à qualidade da assistência de enfermagem. / Introduction: Hospital care for critical burn patients is highly costly due to human, material and structural resources required for its viability. The financial knowledge concerning this subject is still scarce, especially in regard to the cost of procedures performed by nurses in critical burn patients. Objective: To identify the average direct cost (ADC) of the nursing procedures carried out with greater frequency for burn patients admitted into the burn intensive care unit (BICU). Methodology: This quantitative exploratory and descriptive single case study was conducted in BICU at the Burn Unit of the Hospital das Clinicas of the Faculty of Medicine, Universidade de Sao Paulo. The ADC was calculated by multiplying the time (chronometering) spent by nursing professionals in procedures, object of this study, by the unit cost of direct labor adding to the cost of materials and solutions/drugs. For the purposes of the calculation, the Brazilian currency (R$) was used. Results: Based on 1354 observations related to 12 procedures often performed in BICU, it was obtained the ADC of R$ 1.88 (SD=1.04) for \"control the vital signs\"; R$ 28.78 (SD=69.74) for \"administering medication intravenously\"; R$ 16.97 (SD=7.92) for \"measurement of diuresis\"; R$ 2.68 (SD=1.20) to \"check Capillary Blood Glucose\"; R$ 6.71 (SD=2.20) for \"drug administration via nasogastric tube\"; R$ 50.07 (SD=11.89) for \"patient intimate hygiene; R$ 3.64 (SD=2.01) for \"food aid\"; R$ 55.88 (SD=18.98) for \"bed bathing/make the bed\"; R$ 287.11 (SD=372.87) for \"dressing\"; R$ 6.65 (SD=2.09) for \"oral hygiene\"; R$ 3.13 (SD=1.08) for \"oral drug administration\" and R$ 8.51 (SD=1.79) for \"drug administration subcutaneously\". Conclusion: The calculation of the resource costs spent in the procedures required by critical burn patients, in ICU, justify the decision making of subsidizing its allocative efficiency, avoiding the occurrence of waste and, when possible, indicating control strategies/minimizing strategy costs without impairing the quality of nursing care

Over 13 million adolescents sustain traumatic injuries yearly, resulting in functional disability, disfigurement, psychosocial problems and fractures. These fractures are increasingly being treated with orthopedic external fixation devices (EFDs). The purpose of this study was to describe the experience of traumatically injured adolescents treated with EFDs. The 4 aims of the study focused on the circumstances leading to the traumatic event, experiences following the traumatic event, the impact of EFD treatment, and adolescents’ role in pin-care self-management, which is crucial to preventing infection. This longitudinal, qualitative descriptive study used purposive sampling to recruit 5 male and 4 female adolescents, 13-20 years old, from a New England level-1 trauma center. Participants were injured in motor vehicle crashes (including an all-terrain vehicle), falls, by gunshot, trampoline and football trauma. Interview questions were framed by two themes from a study of adult recovery from physical injury, i.e., the event and fallout. Participants were interviewed within days of the injury, 2 weeks after returning home, and within one month of EFD removal. Data were coded from verbatim transcripts using NVIVO and organized into themes guided by the principles of qualitative analysis. An overarching theme of “old self no more; forever changed” emerged from 26 interviews. The participants’ experience affected all tasks of adolescence: independence from parents, accepting body image, peer relations, and forming an identity. Major themes included “what risk?”, regarding circumstances leading to the traumatic event, mastering the environment, was 2 part first, processing the event, where determining fault and realizing everything has changed, they were ambivalently lucky, and not invincible. Secondly “suck it up and deal with it”, where strategies to deal with traumatic injury emerged (i.e. medication, channeling outlets, and slow caution). EFD experience revealed “Space age robot” and “they’ll do it themselves” as emergent themes. EFDs were described as painless, robotic, no big deal and necessary. One draining pin-site was noted. Findings related to use of self-administered analgesics, information technology, recall of detail, and gender differences in coping may lead to future interventions. These findings lay the groundwork for future studies that may improve care of adolescents during acute recovery from traumatic injury.

The purpose of this study was to conduct an integrated review of the literature examining the use of non-pharmacologic pain management strategies in premature neonates and to explore the relationship between health outcomes and time to discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Non-pharmacologic pain management strategies include human touch, facilitated tucking, non-nutritive sucking, and kangaroo care. A systematic review of the literature was conducted from multiple online databases. Peer reviewed, English-language articles containing the keywords ‘pain management’, ‘neonatal intensive care unit’, and ‘non-pharmacologic’ were included for synthesis. Exclusion criteria included articles with a focus on infants not admitted to the NICU and infants with a gestational age greater than 37 weeks. Results revealed positive outcomes when alternative pain-relieving methods, rather than drug therapy, were used in the NICU. A majority of articles suggest facilitated tucking is very successful in lowering a preterm infant’s pain. However, facilitated tucking alone was significantly less effective in relieving procedural pain compared to facilitated tucking in combination with oral sucrose administration. Kangaroo care and gentle human touch also proved to reduce physiologic and behavioral signs of pain in neonates. The literature reveled an overall positive outcome when non-pharmacologic pain interventions are used in the NICU, with some behavioral interventions showing better efficacy than others at relieving neonatal pain. None of the reviewed articles explored the relationship between reduced length of stay and parameters assessing health outcomes based on pain control in neonates. The literature indicated nurses play a significant role in the use of pain-relieving methods in neonatal populations. Implications for future research that focuses on successful behavioral based pain management strategies that assists in refining neonatal pain relief would be of great benefit to improving health outcomes related to infant survival after discharge from the NICU.

Introduction: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), seen in critically ill patients, is a disease process that affects the lungs and directly impacts a patient’s oxygenation. Despite treatment, patients often die of ARDS secondary to systemic complications. Prone positioning has been introduced as a treatment to improve the outcomes of ARDS patients. This thesis summarized and critiqued recent literature on the outcomes of prone positioning in ARDS patients. Methodology: An initial literature search was conducted using CINAHL Plus with Text, Medline, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. Multiple search terms were used. Inclusion criteria consisted of peer reviewed research articles, academic journal articles, and evidence-based research or practices published within the last ten years. All studies included adult subjects and were published in the English language. Studies that did not address patient outcomes such as mortality, length of stay, or hemodynamic oxygenation were excluded from the review. Results: The review of literature contains one meta-analysis and two studies. Data indicated that prone positioning was statistically significant in reducing mortality when performed in sessions of 12 hours or longer (p=0.05). Hemodynamic oxygenation improved significantly after at least 48 hours of implementing prone positioning. There was no trend in the length of stay or duration in mechanical ventilation whether supine or prone positioning was used. Complications such as endotracheal tube dislodgement, incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia, and pressure ulcers were reported in both supine and prone position with an increased risk of pressure ulcers and endotracheal tube obstruction in the prone position groups. Conclusions: Findings support a benefit in patient outcomes in patients placed in prone position with ARDS. Mortality was reduced when prone sessions lasted longer than 12 hours possibly due to the improvement in patient oxygenation 48 hours after initiation of prone positioning intervention. Further research is needed to solidify these findings and establish guidelines and optimal procedural methods to maximize patient outcomes and lower the incidence of patient complications.

Within the health care, many medical professionals know about the critical time restraints for provisions of care within their discipline, but do not know the term "The Golden Hour". The Golden Hour is a term indicating the universal time restraint found within every area of health care and more specifically, every area of nursing. The term and concept represented by it should be recognized to better the outcomes of our patients. Although the Golden Hour typically indicates a 60-minute period of time, various settings recognize shorter and longer periods during which specific actions must be taken to assure positive patient outcomes. To meet this aim, this thesis will review studies related to outcomes as associated with time critical interventions that could be categorized by "The Golden Hour". To meet the goal, a search of CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsychINFO, and ScienceDirect databases was conducted. Findings of the search revealed that while the term is not widely used, the concept of time sensitive care is found in many areas of Health Care and, specifically, within multiple sub-disciplines of nursing.

Family Presence During Resuscitation (FPDR) remains controversial and is not consistently implemented during resuscitation events or invasive procedures. Evidence has demonstrated positive outcomes produced by implementation of FPDR; such as, decreased rates of post-traumatic stress symptoms, decreased symptoms of anxiety, and depressive symptoms were not significantly different. Unfortunately, use of FPDR in the acute care setting is not widely accepted or readily implemented. The primary purpose of this integrative literature review is to evaluate the use of FPDR in the acute care setting. The secondary purpose is to evaluate the health care professional's level of perceived value associated with the outcome of having family present during resuscitation. A systematic literature search was conducted using multiple databases for relevant articles in the English language between 2006 to 2017, including Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), Elton B. Stephens Co. Host (Ebsco Host), Medical Literature On-line (Medline), Psychological Information Database (PsychINFO), and PubMed. Search terms included 'family presence during resuscitation', 'family presence', 'pediatrics', 'nurse perceptions', and 'perceptions'. Ten of the nineteen articles suggest the use of FPDR leads to positive outcomes such as decreased post-traumatic symptoms, and decreased anxiety for family members. The use of FPDR can enhance family members' understanding of resuscitation efforts and involves them in their loved one's care. This integrative review indicates the implementation of FPDR can provide benefits for family members of those undergoing CPR and invasive procedures; although the perceptions of the healthcare team remain the barrier to its use.

Palliative care is of value to the quality of life in people with terminal conditions when initiated early. The purpose of this literature review was to identify barriers to early initiation of palliative care consultation. The secondary purpose was to examine characteristics that prompt palliative care consultation. The TLC model of palliative care was used to explore palliative care in the critical care setting in people with terminal conditions. The concepts of the model support optimal palliative care as collaborative and comprehensive, with shared decisions made by the patient, practitioners, and loved ones. A literature review was conducted to identify common barriers to early initiation of palliative care consults in the critical care setting for people with terminal conditions. Peer-reviewed articles were retrieved from the EBSCOhost, Medical Literature On-Line (Medline), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Elsevier databases to evaluate their relevance to palliative care in the critical care setting. Twelve preliminary studies were selected for review per the inclusion criteria. Eleven studies identified education and legal factors as barriers. Six studies identified patient and family perceptions as barriers. Five studies identified practitioner-related bias as a significant barrier to consultation. Of the twelve articles reviewed, ten articles referred to palliative care in the adult ICU setting. Two articles included in the review examined barriers to palliative care in the neonatal and pediatric settings. The analysis of the data identified three categories as barriers to initiation of end-of-life care: practitioner-related bias, patient and family perceptions, and education and legal factors after a synthesis of the relevant literature was performed. Analysis of the articles suggests early identification of potential diagnoses for palliative consultation beginning in the intensive care unit (ICU) can improve symptom management, support, patient- centered care, and quality of life for people with terminal conditions. Barriers related to all three categories dominated the literature, with the most prominent being barriers related to education and legal factors. Results indicate that development and implementation of a palliative care referral tool can increase consultation for patients in the critical care setting with terminal conditions. Further education on the topic can increase understanding of palliative care services and improve provision of palliative care through early referrals and consultation.

In-patient deterioration is a global phenomena and timely recognition and action improves outcome. Intensive care facilities are scarce and expensive and therefore patient care must be optimal. A retrospective health record analysis was used for this study. The findings indicated that nursing personnel do not recognize patient deterioration timeuously. However, the implementation of an outreach team and clinical markers training program improved the recognition of patient deterioration in general wards with three hours and 40 minutes. It is recommended to implement a comprehensive hospital program that addresses the basic knowledge and skills of general ward personnel to observe, recognize, assess and intervene to patients with clinical deterioration. Together with an extensive training program, a basic physiological parameters guideline to activate a team of experts to the bedside, such as an Outreach team, assist nursing personnel to recognize and manage those patients timeuously and ensure treatment in an appropriate level of care. / Health Studies / M. A. (Health studies)