scholarly journals Intensive Care Nurses’ Perceptions of Routine Dyspnea Assessment

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 132-139
Author(s):  
Kathy M. Baker ◽  
Natalia Sullivan Vragovic ◽  
Robert B. Banzett
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Measurement Tool ◽  
Nurses Perceptions ◽  
Intensive Care Unit Nurses ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Routine Assessment ◽  
Dyspnea Assessment

Background Dyspnea (breathing discomfort) is commonly experienced by critically ill patients and at this time is not routinely assessed and documented. Intensive care unit nurses at the study institution recently instituted routine assessment and documentation of dyspnea in all patients able to report using a numeric scale ranging from 0 to 10. Objective To assess nurses’ perceptions of the utility of routine dyspnea measurement, patients’ comprehension of assessment questions, and the impact on nursing practice and to gather nurses’ suggestions for improvement. Methods Data were obtained from interviews with intensive care unit nurses in small focus groups and an anonymous online survey randomly distributed to nurses representing all intensive care units. Results Intensive care unit nurses affirmed the importance of routine dyspnea assessment and documentation. Before implementing the measurement tool, nurses often assessed for breathing discomfort in patients by using observed signs. Most nurses agreed that routine assessment can be used to predict patients’ outcomes and improve patient-centered care. Nurses found the assessment tool easy to use and reported that it did not interfere with workflow. Nurses felt that patients were able to provide meaningful ratings of dyspnea, similar to ratings of pain, and often used patients’ ratings in conjunction with observed physical signs to optimize patient care. Conclusion Our study shows that nurses understand the importance of routine dyspnea assessment and that the addition of a simple patient report scale can improve care delivery and does not add to the burden of work-flow.

scholarly journals Relationships Among Palliative Care, Ethical Climate, Empowerment, and Moral Distress in Intensive Care Unit Nurses

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 295-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krista Wolcott Altaker ◽  
Jill Howie-Esquivel ◽  
Janine K. Cataldo
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Ethical Climate ◽  
Moral Distress ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
National Database ◽  
Palliative Care Teams ◽  
Intensive Care Unit Nurses ◽  
Distress Scale

Background Intensive care unit nurses experience moral distress when they feel unable to deliver ethically appropriate care to patients. Moral distress is associated with nurse burnout and patient care avoidance. Objectives To evaluate relationships among moral distress, empowerment, ethical climate, and access to palliative care in the intensive care unit. Methods Intensive care unit nurses in a national database were recruited to complete an online survey based on the Moral Distress Scale–Revised, Psychological Empowerment Index, Hospital Ethical Climate Survey, and a palliative care delivery questionnaire. Descriptive, correlational, and regression analyses were performed. Results Of 288 initiated surveys, 238 were completed. Participants were nationally representative of nurses by age, years of experience, and geographical region. Most were white and female and had a bachelor’s degree. The mean moral distress score was moderately high, and correlations were found with empowerment (r = −0.145; P = .02) and ethical climate scores (r = −0.354; P < .001). Relationships between moral distress and empowerment scores and between moral distress and ethical climate scores were not affected by access to palliative care. Nurses reporting palliative care access had higher moral distress scores than those without such access. Education, ethnicity, unit size, access to full palliative care team, and ethical climate explained variance in moral distress scores. Conclusions Poor ethical climate, unintegrated palliative care teams, and nurse empowerment are associated with increased moral distress. The findings highlight the need to promote palliative care education and palliative care teams that are well integrated into intensive care units.

Early Warning Score Communication Bundle: A Pilot Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 238-242
Author(s):  
Cheryl Gagne ◽  
Susan Fetzer
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Early Warning ◽  
Rapid Response Team ◽  
Rapid Response ◽  
Early Warning Score ◽  
Early Warning Scores ◽  
Response Team ◽  
Intensive Care Unit Nurses ◽  
The Impact

Background Unplanned admissions of patients to intensive care units from medical-surgical units often result from failure to recognize clinical deterioration. The early warning score is a clinical decision support tool for nurse surveillance but must be communicated to nurses and implemented appropriately. A communication process including collaboration with experienced intensive care unit nurses may reduce unplanned transfers. Objective To determine the impact of an early warning score communication bundle on medical-surgical transfers to the intensive care unit, rapid response team calls, and morbidity of patients upon intensive care unit transfer. Methods After an early warning score was electronically embedded into medical records, a communication bundle including notification of and telephone collaboration between medical-surgical and intensive care unit nurses was implemented. Data were collected 3 months before and 21 months after implementation. Results Rapid response team calls increased nonsignificantly during the study period (from 6.47 to 8.29 per 1000 patient-days). Rapid response team calls for patients with early warning scores greater than 4 declined (from 2.04 to 1.77 per 1000 patient-days). Intensive care unit admissions of patients after rapid response team calls significantly declined (P = .03), as did admissions of patients with early warning scores greater than 4 (P = .01), suggesting that earlier intervention for patient deterioration occurred. Documented reassessment response time declined significantly to 28 minutes (P = .002). Conclusion Electronic surveillance and collaboration with experienced intensive care unit nurses may improve care, control costs, and save lives. Critical care nurses have a role in coaching and guiding less experienced nurses.

scholarly journals Rapid Implementation and Innovative Applications of a Virtual Intensive Care Unit During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Case Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atiya Dhala ◽  
Farzan Sasangohar ◽  
Bita Kash ◽  
Nima Ahmadi ◽  
Faisal Masud
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Critical Care ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Care Physician ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
Code Blue ◽  
Scope Of Application ◽  
Spread Of Infection ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated a rapid increase of space in highly infectious disease intensive care units (ICUs). At Houston Methodist Hospital (HMH), a virtual intensive care unit (vICU) was used amid the COVID-19 outbreak. OBJECTIVE The aim of this paper was to detail the novel adaptations and rapid expansion of the vICU that were applied to achieve patient-centric solutions while protecting staff and patients’ families during the pandemic. METHODS The planned vICU implementation was redirected to meet the emerging needs of conversion of COVID-19 ICUs, including alterations to staged rollout timing, virtual and in-person staffing, and scope of application. With the majority of the hospital critical care physician workforce redirected to rapidly expanded COVID-19 ICUs, the non–COVID-19 ICUs were managed by cardiovascular surgeons, cardiologists, neurosurgeons, and acute care surgeons. HMH expanded the vICU program to fill the newly depleted critical care expertise in the non–COVID-19 units to provide urgent, emergent, and code blue support to all ICUs. RESULTS Virtual family visitation via the Consultant Bridge application, palliative care delivery, and specialist consultation for patients with COVID-19 exemplify the successful adaptation of the vICU implementation. Patients with COVID-19, who were isolated and separated from their families to prevent the spread of infection, were able to virtually see and hear their loved ones, which bolstered the mental and emotional status of those patients. Many families expressed gratitude for the ability to see and speak with their loved ones. The vICU also protected medical staff and specialists assigned to COVID-19 units, reducing exposure and conserving personal protective equipment. CONCLUSIONS Telecritical care has been established as an advantageous mechanism for the delivery of critical care expertise during the expedited rollout of the vICU at Houston Methodist Hospital. Overall responses from patients, families, and physicians are in favor of continued vICU care; however, further research is required to examine the impact of innovative applications of telecritical care in the treatment of critically ill patients.

scholarly journals Rapid Implementation and Innovative Applications of a Virtual Intensive Care Unit During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Case Study

10.2196/20143 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. e20143
Author(s):  
Atiya Dhala ◽  
Farzan Sasangohar ◽  
Bita Kash ◽  
Nima Ahmadi ◽  
Faisal Masud
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Critical Care ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Care Physician ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
Code Blue ◽  
Scope Of Application ◽  
Spread Of Infection ◽  
The Impact

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated a rapid increase of space in highly infectious disease intensive care units (ICUs). At Houston Methodist Hospital (HMH), a virtual intensive care unit (vICU) was used amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Objective The aim of this paper was to detail the novel adaptations and rapid expansion of the vICU that were applied to achieve patient-centric solutions while protecting staff and patients’ families during the pandemic. Methods The planned vICU implementation was redirected to meet the emerging needs of conversion of COVID-19 ICUs, including alterations to staged rollout timing, virtual and in-person staffing, and scope of application. With the majority of the hospital critical care physician workforce redirected to rapidly expanded COVID-19 ICUs, the non–COVID-19 ICUs were managed by cardiovascular surgeons, cardiologists, neurosurgeons, and acute care surgeons. HMH expanded the vICU program to fill the newly depleted critical care expertise in the non–COVID-19 units to provide urgent, emergent, and code blue support to all ICUs. Results Virtual family visitation via the Consultant Bridge application, palliative care delivery, and specialist consultation for patients with COVID-19 exemplify the successful adaptation of the vICU implementation. Patients with COVID-19, who were isolated and separated from their families to prevent the spread of infection, were able to virtually see and hear their loved ones, which bolstered the mental and emotional status of those patients. Many families expressed gratitude for the ability to see and speak with their loved ones. The vICU also protected medical staff and specialists assigned to COVID-19 units, reducing exposure and conserving personal protective equipment. Conclusions Telecritical care has been established as an advantageous mechanism for the delivery of critical care expertise during the expedited rollout of the vICU at Houston Methodist Hospital. Overall responses from patients, families, and physicians are in favor of continued vICU care; however, further research is required to examine the impact of innovative applications of telecritical care in the treatment of critically ill patients.

Enhancing Communication With Family Members in the Intensive Care Unit: A Mixed-Methods Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 23-32
Author(s):  
Karen-leigh Edward ◽  
Alessandra Galletti ◽  
Minh Huynh
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Confidence Levels ◽  
Decision Making Model ◽  
Intensive Care Unit Nurses

Background Nurses in the intensive care unit are central to clinical care delivery and are often the staff members most accessible to family members for communication. Family members’ ratings of satisfaction with the intensive care unit admission are affected more by communication quality than by the level of care for the patient. Family members may feel that communication in the intensive care unit is inconsistent. Objectives To use a shared decision-making model to deliver a communication education program for intensive care unit nurses, evaluate the confidence levels of nurses who undertook the education, and examine changes in family members’ satisfaction with communication from intensive care unit nurses after the nurses received the education. Methods A mixed-methods design was used. Seventeen nurses and 81 family members participated. Results Staff members were overall very confident with communicating with family members of critically ill patients. This finding was likely linked to staff members’ experience in the position, with 88% of nurses having more than 11 years’ experience. Family members were happy with care but dissatisfied with the environment. Conclusions Environmental factors can negatively affect communication with family members in the intensive care unit.

Mental health impact of admission to the intensive care unit for COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (11) ◽  
pp. 526-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace McDonald ◽  
Louise L Clark
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Post Discharge ◽  
Health Complications ◽  
The Impact

The pandemic caused by Covid-19 has long term ramifications for many, especially those patients who have experienced an intensive care unit (ICU) admission including ventilation and sedation. This paper will explore aspects of care delivery in the ICU regarding the current pandemic and the impact of such on the mental health of some of these patients. Post discharge, patients will be returning to a very different community incorporating social distancing, and in some cases, social isolation and/or shielding. Many may experience a multitude of physical and mental health complications which can ultimately impact upon each other, therefore a bio-psycho-pharmaco-social approach to discharge, case management, risk assessment and positive behavioural support planning is recommended.

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