American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Honors 18 Acute and Critical Care Nurses With Circle of Excellence Award

AACN recognizes 18 exceptional nurses — each nominated by colleagues — with the 2024 Circle of Excellence award. They will be honored during AACN’s 50th National Teaching Institute, to be held in Denver, May 20-22.

AACN Practice Alert Offers Guidance on Manual Prone Positioning for Patients With ARDS

A newly released practice alert from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses aims to standardize how nurses care for patients undergoing prone positioning therapy for extended periods of time. It summarizes expected nursing practice to reduce the risk of complications related to manual prone positioning.

Initiative Prevents Tracheostomy-Related Pressure Injuries

A New York hospital ICU was able to reduce the incidence of medical device-related pressure injuries following a tracheostomy to zero for four years, according to a study published in AACN Advanced Critical Care. A key part of the new clinical process was a revised procedural kit and documentation, with a foam dressing placed under the tracheostomy flange during insertion.

AACN Research Grants Influence Nursing Practice

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses announces the newest recipients of its annual research grants and invites clinicians and researchers to submit projects online by Oct. 28, 2022, for the next application cycle. AACN will award up to three $50,000 Impact Research Grants in 2023, as well as co-sponsoring the AACN-Sigma Critical Care Grant, with up to $10,000 in funding.

Preventing Pressure Injuries Among ICU Patients With COVID-19 Requires Extra Vigilance

Patients who are critically ill with COVID-19 are at exceptionally high risk for developing healthcare-associated pressure injuries, especially those related to medical devices, and clinicians must consider additional factors beyond those assessed with common classification tools.

Transition to ENFit Connectors Presents Opportunity to Review Feeding Tube Protocols

Variations in practice and outdated protocols related to nasogastric feeding tubes can impact patient safety and lead to complications. U.S. healthcare organizations are currently transitioning to a new type of connectors, which provides an opportune time to review feeding tube insertion and care processes.