CCN -- Table of Contents (February 2003, 23 [1])

Cover Article:

Kitty Garrett, Kayo Tsuruta, Shirley Walker, Sharon Jackson, and Michelle Sweat: Managing Nausea and Vomiting: Current Strategies
Nausea and vomiting, often considered more of an unpleasant inconvenience than a medical problem, can be debilitating and can cause prolonged recovery times and increased costs. In critically ill patients, severe or protracted nausea and vomiting can lead to serious complications, which can be life-threatening. The authors present the physiological mechanisms of nausea and vomiting and compare therapeutic agents recommended for treating and preventing nausea and vomiting. Because most episodes of nausea and vomiting are preventable, implications for critical care nursing will focus on prevention rather than control.
Crit Care Nurse 2003 Feb;23(1):31-50. [Full Text] [PDF] [CE Test]

Jan Powers, Rick Chance, Lawrence Bortenschlager, Jama Hottenstein, Karen Bobel, Jane Gervasio, George H. Rodman, Jr, and Tom Stone McNees: Bedside Placement of Small-Bowel Feeding Tubes: In the Intensive Care Unit
Nutritional support for critically ill or injured patients is a routine and vital part of therapy in the ICU. Placement of small-bowel feeding tubes may be costly and time-consuming and requires specialized technical skills. In this article, the authors provide justification for enteral nutrition and describe several techniques for placement of feeding tubes, and present a modified protocol for placing feeding tubes into the small bowel at the bedside without fluoroscopy.
Crit Care Nurse 2003 Feb;23(1):16-24. [Full Text] [PDF] [CE Test]

Michelle Coffey, Gregory K. Crowder, and Dennis J. Cheek: Reducing Coronary Artery Disease by Decreasing Homocysteine Levels
Many patients who have a myocardial infarction have normal cholesterol levels and no other known risk factors. An elevated plasma level of homocysteine correlates with an increased risk for coronary artery disease and is an important measurable biomarker. An increase in plasma concentration of total homocysteine, hyperhomocysteinemia, is an important independent risk factor for vascular disease. The authors discuss the relationship between coronary artery disease and homocysteine levels, and provide a literature review and nursing implications.
Crit Care Nurse 2003 Feb;23(1):25-30. [Full Text] [PDF] [CE Test]

Grif Alspach: Nurse Staffing and Patient Outcomes: This Is News?
Crit Care Nurse 2003 Feb;23(1):14-15. [Full Text] [PDF]

David M. Hachey and Tony Smith: Use of Nesiritide to Treat Acute Decompensated Heart Failure
Crit Care Nurse 2003 Feb;23(1):53-55. [Full Text] [PDF]

Wendy J. Berke and Margaret M. Ecklund: Keep Pace With Step-Down Care
Crit Care Nurse 2003 Feb;23(1):56-58. [Full Text] [PDF]

Randy M. Caine and Levon Ter-Bagdasarian: Early Identification and Management of Critical Incident Stress
Crit Care Nurse 2003 Feb;23(1):59-65. [Full Text] [PDF]

Shari M. Burns: Delirium During Emergence From Anesthesia: A Case Study
Crit Care Nurse 2003 Feb;23(1):66-69. [Full Text] [PDF]

Karen Zahn and Joseph Dunn: Ask the Experts
Crit Care Nurse 2003 Feb;23(1):70-71. [Full Text] [PDF]

Paula Lusardi and Alex Smith: Ask the experts
Crit Care Nurse 2003 Feb;23(1):71. [Full Text] [PDF]

Ruthe C. Ashley: The Anatomy of a Lawsuit: Part 4
Crit Care Nurse 2003 Feb;23(1):72. [Full Text] [PDF]

Sonya Hardin and Leslie Hussey: AACN Synergy Model for Patient Care: Case Study of a CHF Patient
Crit Care Nurse 2003 Feb;23(1):73-76. [Full Text] [PDF]

Carol Rees Parrish and Stacey Falls McCray: Nutrition Support for the Mechanically Ventilated Patient
Crit Care Nurse 2003 Feb;23(1):77-80. [Full Text] [PDF]

Connie Barden: From Silence to Voice: What Nurses Know and Must Communicate to the Public
Crit Care Nurse 2003 Feb;23(1):82. [Full Text] [PDF]

Tracy Pasek: Print or Store to Folder? Critical Care Newsletter
Crit Care Nurse 2003 Feb;23(1):88-87. [Full Text] [PDF]

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