Ames reviewed and summarized studies on the safety and effectiveness of tooth brushing in critically ill patients who were receiving mechanical ventilation. The studies indicated the following:
—Rochelle Armola,rn, msn, ccrn
See Article, pp 242–250
If you could make one simple change to your practice to save a life today, what would you do? Early detection of ischemia via continuous ST-segment monitoring can lead to life-saving interventions for patients at risk for myocardial infarction (MI) or extension of MI. Despite recommendations from the American Heart Association and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, ischemia monitoring is rarely incorporated into practice due to a lack of physician support or orders, a lack of education about technology and expected response by nurses, and annoying false alarms.
Sangkachand and colleagues examined whether using a new software that incorporates a graphical display for continuous ST-segment monitoring could improve nurses’ use of and attitudes...