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UrduHigh rates of variability in extubation times among cardiac surgery patients in Duke University Hospital’s cardiothoracic intensive care unit led to a new fast-track extubation protocol and redesigned care processes. As a result, more patients were extubated within six hours after being admitted to the ICU after surgery.
Tag: ICU
Fauci: Nurses Are the Heroes of the Pandemic
Dr. Anthony Fauci spoke to nurses and other healthcare professionals during the National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition (NTI), the annual conference of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).
New AACN CSI Academy Cohort at 10 Hospitals Focuses on Underserved Patient Populations
Thanks to a grant from Edwards Lifesciences Foundation, nurses caring for underserved critically ill cardiac patients at 10 U.S. hospitals will participate in a cardiac-focused cohort of AACN Clinical Scene Investigator (CSI) Academy, a nurse leadership and innovation program from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.
Disaster Response Planning Requires Critical Care Readiness
Journal article details staffing, space and supply considerations to integrate critical care-specific needs into disaster response planning. The article is part of a symposium in AACN Advanced Critical Care on trauma patient care.
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses selects OSU’s Happ as 2021 Distinguished Research Lecturer
Mary Beth Happ, from The Ohio State University College of Nursing, is the 40th recipient of AACN’s Distinguished Research Lecture award. Her research focuses on improving care and communication with communication-impaired patients, families and clinicians in high acuity and critical care settings.
Nurse-Driven Initiative Cuts CAUTI Rates in the ICU
An initiative at UPMC Williamsport used education and practice-related interventions to quickly reduce CAUTI rates and lay the groundwork for hospital-wide implementation with long-term impact. The bundle included a daily checklist and nurse-driven removal protocol for discontinuing indwelling catheter use.
Study: Race Made No Difference in ICU Outcomes of COVID-19 Patients
In a study that looked at racial differences in outcomes of COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit, researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit found that patients of color had a lower 28-day mortality than white patients.
Race, however, was not a factor in overall hospital mortality, length of stay in the ICU or in the rate of patients placed on mechanical ventilation, researchers said.
The findings, published in Critical Care Medicine, are believed to be one of the first in the United States to study racial differences and outcomes specific to patients hospitalized in the ICU with COVID-19.
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Announces Recipients of 2021 Circle of Excellence Awards
The 18 nurses who receive the Circle of Excellence award from AACN this year demonstrate an exceptional commitment to achieving excellent outcomes in the care of acutely and critically ill patients and their families, with solution-oriented approaches to challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mealer, Moss Receive AACN Award for Efforts to Reduce Burnout Among Critical Care Clinicians
Meredith Mealer, PhD, RN, and Marc Moss, MD, from the University of Colorado School of Medicine, receive the 2021 AACN Pioneering Spirit Award in recognition of their collaborative work over the past 20 years to improve the mental health of healthcare workers, especially nurses.
Critical Care Nursing Conference Offers Education, Inspiration, With Online Flexibility
AACN’s National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition will offer a fully immersive, interactive conference experience May 24-27, delivering the education and inspiration critical care nurses deserve and the flexibility they need.
Hospitalized COVID-19 patients with obesity are significantly more likely to need ICU care
People with obesity who are hospitalized with COVID-19 have a significantly higher rate of ICU admissions and longer duration of ICU stay compared to people with a normal body mass index (BMI), according to a study presented virtually at ENDO 2021, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting.
Certified Nurses Demonstrate Commitment to Evidence-Based Care
Certified Nurses Day is March 19, providing an opportunity to recognize certified nurses for their professionalism, leadership and commitment to excellence in the care of patients and families.
In-Person Reviews of ICU Patient Deaths Led to Care Improvements
Data from five years of in-person rapid mortality reviews of 500+ ICU patient deaths at a Los Angeles hospital not only identified immediate concerns related to patient care but also yielded valuable insights on potentially preventable patient deaths and areas for hospital improvement initiatives.
How Reducing Body Temperature Could Help a Tenth of All ICU Patients
ROCKVILLE, MD – A tenth of all intensive care unit patients worldwide, and many critical patients with COVID-19, have acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses recognizes 208 hospital units with Beacon Award for Excellence
More than 200 units from 149 U.S. hospitals earned the AACN Beacon Award for Excellence between Jan. 1, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2020.
Vanderbilt, Zambia Researchers Find Delirium in Hospitalized Patients Linked to Mortality, Disability in Sub-Saharan Africa
Delirium, a form of acute brain dysfunction, is widespread in critically ill patients in lower resourced hospitals, and the duration of delirium predicted both mortality and disability at six months after discharge, according to a study published in PLOS ONE.
Pauses During CPR, Compression Quality Impact Survival Rates
An analysis of CPR interventions after in-hospital cardiac arrests found that the number of pauses in chest compressions greater than 10 seconds consistently impacted survival rates. The study appears to be the first to assess participants at four milestones during their hospital stay.
Convalescent Plasma Improved Survival in COVID-19 Patients with Blood Cancers
Treatment with convalescent plasma vastly improved the survival rate of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 who also had hematologic malignances that compromise the immune system, according to new data released by the COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium (CCC19).
Nurses Key to Reducing Stress for Families of ICU Patients
Nurses play a crucial role in helping to reduce the stress experienced by family members of critically ill patients, according to an article in Critical Care Nurse. A review of relevant research studies (2007-2019) found that, regardless of the patient’s age, family members’ stress fell into four main categories.
Post-ICU Interviews Reveal Outcomes Important to Patients, Families
A Penn Medicine study in American Journal of Critical Care offers insights into patients’ and families’ priorities for quality metrics during the ICU stay and postdischarge outcomes. Researchers conducted interviews with individual ICU survivors, as well as family caregivers of patients who survived and of patients who died.
COVID-19 Vaccines: Nurses Continue to Lead
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses has released a statement strongly recommending that nurses be vaccinated against COVID-19. In the statement, the organization addresses the nuanced sense of pride and anxiety felt by nurses and other healthcare professionals who have been given top priority to receive the first COVID-19 vaccines.
AACN CSI Academy Expands to Support Underserved Populations With Grant From Edwards Lifesciences Foundation
A $200,000 grants from Edwards Lifesciences Foundation will support the expansion of the AACN CSI Academy nurse leadership and innovation program to 10 cardiac surgery critical care and/or progressive care units that provide care to a significant proportion of patients from underserved populations, with an emphasis on Black communities.
COVID-19 Pandemic Amplifies Need to Integrate Palliative Care Into ICUs
Critical care nurses are ideally positioned to drive full integration of palliative care into the care of all patients who are seriously ill, including patients with COVID-19.
Informatics Approach Helps Reveal Risk Factors for Pressure Injuries
Researchers used informatics to examine 5,000+ patient records and five years of data related to nursing skin assessments and hospital-acquired pressure injuries. The results underscore the importance of treating and monitoring irritated skin early and eliminating the cause as an important step to prevent pressure injuries.
AACN-funded Research Influences Nursing Practice
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses invites clinicians and nurse scientists to submit research projects by Oct. 30, 2020, for the next application cycle, with total available funding of $160,000. The most recent recipients and their projects exemplify AACN’s commitment to nurse-driven research and evidence-based practice.
Commitment to Clinical Inquiry Guides Rapid Innovation During COVID-19
An article in AACN Advanced Critical Care describes how Duke Heart Center did not sacrifice its commitment to clinical inquiry and providing high quality care for patients and their families, as it quickly adjusted to sudden pandemic-related visitor restrictions.
AACN Launches Micro-Credential for COVID-19 Patient Care
New micro-credential for nurses and other healthcare professionals who provide direct care for critically ill patients with COVID-19 is among the first for clinical care. AACN is the first professional nursing organization to offer a micro-credential.
Massachusetts Study Examines Relationships Between Staffing, Sepsis Rates
Sepsis rates at a sample of Massachusetts hospitals were significantly lower with increased nurse staffing and intensivist hours, according to new research published in the October issue of Critical Care Nurse.
Statement: Science Must Drive Clinical Practice, Public Health Policy
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has released a position statement calling for all healthcare decision-making to be anchored in the best scientific evidence available. The statement reinforces nursing professionals’ commitment to following the best evidence possible to provide care for patients and families.
New Version of AACN’s Critical Care Orientation Course Includes Stand-alone and Specialty-focused Options
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses has released the latest version of its Essentials of Critical Care Orientation online course. Since its initial launch in 2002, ECCO has been used at more than 1,100 hospitals and healthcare facilities as an integral part of their critical care orientation or to supplement classroom-based education.
Young Houston woman recovers from COVID-19 after participation in two UTHealth clinical trials
Heba Hajjar, 23, recovered from COVID-19 after participating in two clinical trials while in the ICU.
Workplace Climate May Drive Nurses’ Perceptions of Burnout
A nationwide survey of critical care nurses points to workplace climate as an important target for efforts to promote clinician well-being and reduce burnout. Overall, one-third of the respondents reported burnout, which mirrors other studies that have found a high prevalence of burnout among critical care nurses.
Recovery After Severe COVID Infection Poses Unique Challenges
As more patients recovered from COVID-19 are discharged from stressed ICUs, they face multiple problems brought on by the pandemic.
Atrium Health Tele-ICU Evolves to Meet COVID-19 Challenges
Atrium Health’s tele-ICU quickly adjusted its patient-centered focus to include supporting and protecting bedside nurses caring for patients in isolation, as part of the system’s planning and preparations for the pandemic.
Story Tips From Johns Hopkins Experts on COVID-19
It seems there will never be enough “thank-yous” for the incredible doctors, nurses, technicians and support staff members who are working around the clock to help patients who have COVID-19, the dangerous coronavirus disease. Their dedication, determination and spirit enable Johns Hopkins to deliver the promise of medicine.
As the mother of a 2-year-old, with responsibilities that sometimes require escorting COVID-19 patients at Sibley Memorial Hospital, Safety and Security Officer, SPO, Lolita Moore says she takes the necessary steps to protect herself and her family against the virus and prays daily. “I like that I can still be out helping people during the pandemic,” she says.
Review report outlines rehabilitation strategies for COVID-19 patients
Early rehabilitation of COVID-19 survivors is important to reduce long-term complications, according to researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).
Simple Strategies to Increase Positive Emotion Skills
Five-article symposium in AACN journal focuses on promoting well-being and resilience in critical care nursing, including strategies to increase the frequency of positive emotion in daily life.
Overall COVID-19 intensive care mortality has fallen by a third since the start of the pandemic, studies suggest
A systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies from three continents shows overall mortality of COVID-19 patients in intensive care units (ICUs) has fallen from almost 60% at the end of March to 42% at the end of May — a relative decrease of one third.
Whole body scans for trauma patients saves time spent in emergency departments
A new study by a University of South Australia medical imaging student may have found the solution to easing hospital ramping and crowded emergency departments.
Simple blood test can predict severity of COVID-19 for some patients
An early prognosis factor that could be a key to determining who will suffer greater effects from COVID-19, and help clinicians better prepare for these patients, may have been uncovered by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). Results of the findings were published today in the International Journal of Laboratory Hematology.
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses announces board of directors for fiscal year 2021
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), the world’s largest specialty nursing organization, announces its board of directors for fiscal year 2021, with terms effective July 1, 2020.
AACN Certification Corporation announces board of directors for fiscal year 2021
AACN Certification Corporation — the credentialing arm of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) — offers many nursing certification programs and has more than 120,000 active certificants.
Standardized Curriculum Introduces ICU Nurses to ECMO
Vanderbilt University Medical Center designed and rapidly deployed a curriculum specifically to equip nurses new to ECMO with the knowledge, skills and confidence necessary to provide proficient and safe care for patients receiving ECMO. The pre-COVID ECMO training proved to be an effective, resource-efficient and pragmatic solution that can be used across different types of ICUs and across institutions.
Norma Metheny Receives AACN Award for Distinguished Career
AACN honors Norma Metheny, professor and the Dorothy A. Votsmier Endowed Chair in Nursing at Saint Louis University, with its 2020 Marguerite Rodgers Kinney Award for a Distinguished Career.
Nurses are on the Frontlines of COVID-19 but Their Expertise Remains Missing from Policy Decisions
Nurses’ perspectives on the COVID-19 pandemic are unique and essential to informing decisions made by federal leaders, and they should be included in key decision-making groups, urges the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
Mortality of Mechanically Ventilated COVID-19 Patients Is Lower than Previously Reported Reveals Study in Critical Care Medicine
June 4, 2020 – An online first study published in Critical Care Medicine indicates the actual mortality rate of adults with critical illness from COVID-19 is less than what was previously reported. Compared to earlier reports of a 50 percent…
Shifting the Patterns That Contribute to Ethical Conflicts
A four-step process can help nurses and other healthcare professionals identify patterns behind ethical challenges and reveal new approaches to guide communication and decision-making, according to the ethics column in AACN Advanced Critical Care
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and Dearworld.org Partner on #DearNurses Photo Docuseries
For its latest portrait collection, “#DearNurses,” DearWorld.org is partnering with the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses to capture portraits and letters of 40 front-line critical care nurses working in COVID-19 units across south Louisiana
Mount Sinai Works With Google Nest to Help Patients With COVID-19
A New Nest Camera Console Enhances Safety of Patients and Staff; Reduces PPE Demands
COVID-19 and the Challenging Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
Joe G. N. “Skip” Garcia, MD, an academic pulmonary physician-scientist describes a complication in COVID-19.