Understanding RN and unlicensed assistive personnel working relationships in designing care delivery strategies

How a registered nurse and unlicensed assistive personnel partner together has implications for care delivery and, ultimately, patient outcomes. The authors summarize findings from a study that examined the characteristics of registered nurse and unlicensed assistive personnel working relationships and the care delivery practices that influence those relationships. Strategies are recommended for deploying registered nurses and unlicensed assistive personnel to promote collaboration and to improve patient care delivery.     

Creating a career ladder for nursing assistants in long-term care

This article describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of a career ladder for certified nursing assistants in long-term care. A career ladder is an effective way to maximize the use of unlicensed workers without changing the skill mix (eg, no loss of licensed nursing positions) and allow the licensed nurse more time to perform higher-level clinical tasks, such as assessments, patient education, and documentation. Implementation of an unlicensed worker career ladder also can improve nursing assistant retention.     

The obesity-hypoventilation syndrome and respiratory failure in the acute trauma patient

Background: The Emergency Department experience, for many patients, involves procedures and therapies that can compromise ventilation. In the acute trauma patient, these include spinal immobilization, supine positioning, and the administration of sedative and analgesic medications. Patients with the obesity-hypoventilation syndrome have a syndrome distinct from mere obesity, and are more sensitive to these insults. Objective: To describe a case of respiratory failure in a patient with the obesity-hypoventilation syndrome resulting from injuries and therapies that in any other patient would not be expected to cause respiratory failure. Case Report: A 59-year-old woman suffered a mechanical fall, fractured her T6 vertebral body and right proximal humerus, and, after spinal immobilization and the administration of routine doses of opioid analgesics, suffered significant hypoxemia and respiratory acidosis. Reversal agents were ineffective, but non-invasive mechanical ventilation restored adequate respiration. Conclusion: Although obesity-hypoventilation syndrome occurs in only a minority of morbidly obese patients, it is important because the consequences of respiratory failure can be severe if not recognized and anticipated. Such patients will not be able to adequately increase ventilation in response to mounting hypercapnia. The condition is easily addressed through non-invasive ventilation.     

Unlicensed persons in patient care settings. Administrative, policy, and ethical issues

The current nursing shortage is a supply-and-demand problem. Factors contributing to the shortage include increased hospital use of RNs; decreased nursing school enrollment; increased demand for RNs outside of hospitals in skilled nursing facilities, health maintenance organizations, and home health care programs; noncompetitive salaries; and lack of autonomy. The nursing shortage has triggered the development and implementation of programs to prepare non-nurse bedside technicians to work in partnership with RNs. The functions of these unlicensed persons range from housekeeping, stocking, and clerical responsibilities to several technical treatments that once fell within the role responsibilities of registered or practical nurses. The partnerships between unlicensed persons and RNs in patient care settings have given rise to several administrative, policy, and ethical issues for nurse leaders. An ethical analysis, based on the application of ethical principles and moral dilemmas found in "The Parable of the Sadhu," offers some guidelines to nursing leaders in the administrative and policy decisions inherent in the development and retention of licensed persons in patient care settings. Some conclusions drawn from the ethically based questions are: The acquisition and retention of RNs and other licensed caregivers should take precedence over the development of programs for non-nurse bedside technicians. RNs in partnership with unlicensed persons in patient care settings must know what they can legitimately delegate. The RN has personal responsibility for ensuring optimal standards of nursing practice in the delegation of duties. The partnership between professional nurses and unlicensed persons must be a participative effort, not a manipulative or coercive one. In putting the organizational principle of subsidiarity into practice, decision makers will be able to maintain respect for human dignity and the uniqueness of patients and caregivers as well. The development and retention of unlicensed persons in patient care settings depends on a well-developed personal ethic that needs to be congruent with the mission, philosophy, and codes of ethics of national and local health care organizations.     

Respiratory failure due to expiratory central airway collapse

We report a patient with respiratory failure due to expiratory central airway collapse successfully treated with airway stents. A 74-year-old male with obesity and obstructive sleep apnea had recurrent episodes of acute respiratory failure. Noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation failed because of patient intolerance and lack of improvement, and soon after he stopped using the noninvasive ventilator he developed severe respiratory failure that required a tracheostomy. He was transferred to our institution one month later. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy revealed diffuse expiratory central airway collapse of both main bronchi and the lower two thirds of the trachea, caused by bulging of the posterior airway membrane. During rigid bronchoscopy we inserted studded silicone stents in the right and left mainstem bronchi and in the distal trachea. The patient was weaned from mechanical ventilation 72 hours later and discharged to a long-term care facility. Expiratory central airway collapse should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with respiratory failure, especially when weaning from mechanical ventilation is difficult.     

Acute respiratory distress syndrome from chlorine inhalation during a swimming pool accident: a case report and review of the literature

Chlorine inhalation can result in significant morbidity and mortality. The most common clinical ramification is mucosal irritation. Rarely, depending upon the degree of exposure, patients can develop acute respiratory distress syndrome. Management is usually supportive with an unproven role for inhaled or systemic corticosteroids. A case of a young woman who developed respiratory failure secondary to acute respiratory distress syndrome from accidental exposure to chlorine fumes at a community swimming pool is described. The patient suffered a prolonged hospitalization with the need for mechanical ventilation. Despite limited data to support the decision, the patient was started on treatment with corticosteroids. She recovered completely from her illness and was discharged home without supplemental oxygen. A concise discussion of chlorine inhalation injury and a literature review on the utility of inhaled and/or systemic corticosteroids for this clinical entity is presented.     

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridge to liver transplantation for acute respiratory distress syndrome-induced life-threatening hypoxaemia aggravated by hepatopulmonary syndrome

Introduction

Combined with massive lung aeration loss resulting from acute respiratory distress syndrome, hepatopulmonary syndrome, a liver-induced vascular lung disorder characterized by diffuse or localized dilated pulmonary capillaries, may induce hypoxaemia and death in patients with end-stage liver disease.

Methods

The case of such a patient presenting with both disorders and in whom an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was used is described.

Results

A 51-year-old man with a five-year history of alcoholic cirrhosis was admitted for acute respiratory failure, platypnoea and severe hypoxaemia requiring emergency tracheal intubation. Following mechanical ventilation, hypoxaemia remained refractory to positive end-expiratory pressure, 100% of inspired oxygen and inhaled nitric oxide. Two-dimensional contrast-enhanced (agitated saline) transthoracic echocardiography disclosed a massive right-to-left extracardiac shunt, without patent foramen ovale. Contrast computed tomography (CT) of the thorax using quantitative analysis and colour encoding system established the diagnosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome aggravated by hepatopulmonary syndrome. According to the severity of the respiratory condition, a veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was implemented and the patient was listed for emergency liver transplantation. Orthotopic liver transplantation was performed at Day 13. At the end of the surgical procedure, the improvement in oxygenation allowed removal of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (Day 5). The patient was discharged from hospital at Day 48. Three months after hospital discharge, the patient recovered a correct physical autonomy status without supplemental O₂.

Conclusions

In a cirrhotic patient, acute respiratory distress syndrome was aggravated by hepatopulmonary syndrome causing life-threatening hypoxaemia not controlled by standard supportive measures. The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, by controlling gas exchange, allowed the performing of a successful liver transplantation and final recovery.     

Red blood cell exchange to avoid intubating a COVID-19 positive patient with sickle cell disease?

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to claim lives across the globe, insufficient data exists regarding the optimal treatment. It is well known that patients 55 years of age or older and patients with certain chronic diseases are at higher risk of severe illness, including acute respiratory distress syndrome and death. A potentially fatal pulmonary complication of sickle cell disease, acute chest syndrome, can be precipitated by acute infections, including respiratory viruses. We report the case of a patient with sickle cell disease (HbSC) who developed COVID-19 pneumonia and acute chest syndrome who was treated with emergent red blood cell exchange in order to avoid endotracheal intubation.     

Strategies to optimize alveolar recruitment

Low tidal volume (4-8 mL/kg) during mechanical ventilation in adult respiratory distress syndrome is the standard of care. However, there are questions regarding the approach to setting positive end-expiratory pressure and the use of recruitment maneuvers in patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome. Animal data and preliminary patient data suggest that lung recruitment maneuvers can markedly improve arterial oxygen tension (PaO2). Prone positioning has also become established a method of recruiting lung and improving PaO2 in those with adult respiratory distress syndrome. The data suggest that recruitment maneuvers in the prone position are most effective in improving PaO2 and that the positive end-expiratory pressure level required to sustain the improved PaO2 is less in the prone position than in the supine position.     

Nursing staff perspectives on oral care for neuroscience patients.

Neuroscience patients frequently experience poor oral health and related complications because of motor and cognitive dysfunction and the side effects of treatments. Inadequate oral care increases plaque deposits, which can lead to inflammation, pain, and infection. These patients often depend on nurses for oral hygiene. In practice, nurses frequently delegate the delivery of oral care to unlicensed personnel, including nursing assistants, technicians, and student nurses. Few studies have addressed oral care interventions for neuroscience patients. This article identifies oral care interventions practiced by nurses and unlicensed personnel caring for neuroscience patients with self-care deficits. An investigator-designed survey instrument was used to obtain data from nurses and unlicensed personnel working with neuroscience patients in a large hospital. Participants responded to questions about products and agents used in care, frequency of care, documentation of care, patient risk factors, and system support issues such as availability of supplies. Data were analyzed using frequency distributions. Findings demonstrated that selection of products and agents used for oral care is not always evidence based, that provider preference leads to variations in type and frequency of care, and that system issues affect care. These findings suggest the need for increased attention to oral care for neuroscience patients. Research is needed to further examine the relationship between oral care interventions and patient outcomes.     

Successful weaning after plasma exchange for polyneuropathy related to POEMS syndrome

Respiratory failure due to polyneuropathy associated with POEMS syndrome (Polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M protein, and skin changes) is unusual. In this report, we describe a 47‐year‐old male patient with polyneuropathy related to POEMS syndrome who suffered from hypercapnic respiratory failure due to progressive weakness of the respiratory muscles. His respiratory muscle strength significantly improved after plasma exchange and was extubated successfully. To our knowledge, this is the first case of POEMS syndrome with aggressive polyneuropathy that was successful treated by plasma exchange and our experience provides insight regarding the optimal management of such patients. J. Clin. Apheresis, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Severe acute respiratory distress syndrome in a child with malaria: favorable response to prone positioning

We present the case of a 4-year-old boy with malaria who developed acute respiratory distress syndrome with severe hypoxemia refractory to mechanical ventilation and inhaled nitric oxide. Placing the patient in prone position immediately and persistently improved oxygenation: the ratio of P(aO(2)) to fraction of inspired oxygen rose from 47 to 180 mm Hg and the oxygenation index decreased from 40 to 11. The patient survived, with no respiratory sequelae.     

肺超声评分评估新生儿呼吸窘迫综合征肺病变及预后的可行性

目的：研究探讨肺超声评分评估新生儿呼吸窘迫综合征肺病变及预后的可行性。方法：研究对象：选择120例我院就诊且因呼吸困难而怀疑为呼吸窘迫综合征新生儿;病例收集时间：2017年9月~2018年10月。对120例呼吸困难新生儿实施肺部超声检查、胸部X线检查,以临床综合诊断结果为参照,计算和比较超声、X线在呼吸窘迫综合征诊断中的灵敏度、特异度、准确率,并分析诊断结果间的一致性。根据经腹肺分级标准和新生儿肺部超声图像,对新生儿肺部病变进行评分,比较呼吸窘迫综合征新生儿与非呼吸窘迫综合征新生儿的肺超声评分。再对呼吸窘迫综合征新生儿实施机械通气治疗和肺表面活性物质治疗,比较治疗前后患儿的肺超声评分。结果：120例呼吸困难新生儿中,有90例经临床综合诊断证实为呼吸窘迫综合征,其余30例非呼吸窘迫综合征,证实为暂时性呼吸增快症。以临床综合诊断结果为参照,超声在呼吸窘迫综合征诊断中的灵敏度、特异度、准确率均高于X线（P<0.05）。经一致性分析,X线诊断结果与临床综合诊断结果之间的一致性为中等（Kappa=0.607）,而超声诊断结果与临床综合诊断结果间的一致性为良好（Kappa=0.789）。在双肺、左肺、右肺、双肺底,呼吸窘迫综合征新生儿的肺超声评分均低于非呼吸窘迫综合征新生儿（P<0.05）;治疗后,呼吸窘迫综合征新生儿各部位的肺超声评分均较治疗前增高（P<0.05）。结论：超声可对新生儿的呼吸窘迫综合征予以灵敏、准确检出,且肺超声评分还可对新生儿肺部病变及预后情况予以反映,临床上可将超声作为新生儿呼吸窘迫综合征诊断、肺病变判断、预后评估的方法。     

Survival in adult respiratory distress syndrome caused by blastomycosis infection

A 32-year-old man with diabetes had rapid development of acute respiratory failure and severe hypoxemia. Radiologic and hemodynamic evaluation confirmed the clinical diagnosis of adult respiratory distress syndrome, and open-lung biopsy disclosed blastomycosis as the etiologic agent. The survival of this patient, after amphotericin therapy, to our knowledge is the first reported recovery from substantiated adult respiratory distress syndrome secondary to blastomycosis.     

Ventilator strategies for posttraumatic acute respiratory distress syndrome: airway pressure release ventilation and the role of spontaneous breathing in critically ill patients

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Patients who experience severe trauma are at increased risk for the development of acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome. The management strategies used to treat respiratory failure in this patient population should be comprehensive. Current trends in the management of acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome consist of maintaining acceptable gas exchange while limiting ventilator-associated lung injury. RECENT FINDINGS: Currently, two distinct forms of ventilator-associated lung injury are recognized to produce alveolar stress failure and have been termed low-volume lung injury (intratidal alveolar recruitment and derecruitment) and high-volume lung injury (alveolar stretch and overdistension). Pathologically, alveolar stress failure from low- and high-volume ventilation can produce lung injury in animal models and is termed ventilator-induced lung injury. The management goal in acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome challenges clinicians to achieve the optimal balance that both limits the forms of alveolar stress failure and maintains effective gas exchange. The integration of new ventilator modes that include the augmentation of spontaneous breathing during mechanical ventilation may be beneficial and may improve the ability to attain these goals. SUMMARY: Airway pressure release ventilation is a mode of mechanical ventilation that maintains lung volume to limit intra tidal recruitment /derecruitment and improves gas exchange while limiting over distension. Clinical and experimental data demonstrate improvements in arterial oxygenation, ventilation-perfusion matching (less shunt and dead space ventilation), cardiac output, oxygen delivery, and lower airway pressures during airway pressure release ventilation. Mechanical ventilation with airway pressure release ventilation permits spontaneous breathing throughout the entire respiratory cycle, improves patient comfort, reduces the use of sedation, and may reduce ventilator days.     

One disease,many faces-typical and atypical presentations of SARS-CoV-2 infection-related COVID-19 disease

Since the appearance of the novel coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2) and related coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China in December 2019, a very high number of small and large patient series have been published in literature from around the world. Even though the classical presentation of COVID-19 is one with respiratory symptoms with or without pneumonia that can be self-limiting or evolve into severe respiratory distress syndrome with multiple organ failure, and secondary bacterial sepsis, a large body of evidence suggests a plethora of other types of clinical presentation. In this exhaustive review, we reviewed all of the published literature on COVID-19 to identify different types of clinical presentations affecting various organ systems, to provide an in-depth analysis that may prove useful for clinicians and health-workers on the frontline, battling the severe pandemic.     

Successful treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome and severe pulmonary hypertension in a child with Bordetella pertussis infection

Infection with Bordetella pertussis can cause severe illness with neurological and pulmonary complications in children. Pulmonary hypertension is an early sign of potentially fatal disease and can cause failure of conventional respiratory therapy in severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We report a 4 1/2-year-old boy with B. pertussis infection who developed severe ARDS and pulmonary hypertension. Because of severe neurological signs the patient did not qualify for extracorporal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). After conventional ventilation, surfactant and high frequency oscillation ventilation (HFOV) failed, treatment with nitric oxide (NO) improved oxygenation, allowing recovery without the need for ECMO. The patient survived with few sequelae. Thus, this treatment may be an option in high-risk children who meet the criteria for ECMO but are excluded because of poor neurological status, as in our patient.     

Workplace Bullying in the OR: Results of a Descriptive Study

This study describes the incidence of workplace bullying among perioperative RNs, surgical technologists, and unlicensed perioperative personnel in two academic medical centers. The study sought to determine whether the demographic variables of gender, ethnicity, hospital, years of experience on the unit, years in the profession, and job title predict the experience of workplace bullying; whether a relationship exists between workplace bullying and emotional exhaustion; and whether bullying is associated with perceptions of patient safety in the OR. The cross-sectional design included perioperative nurses, surgical technologists, and unlicensed perioperative personnel (N = 167). Fifty-nine percent of the study participants reported witnessing coworker bullying weekly, and 34% reported at least two bullying acts weekly. Having one’s opinion ignored is the most common bullying act, with 28% of respondents experiencing being ignored. Differences in the experience of bullying can be found between hospitals and among ethnicities. Emotional exhaustion also was correlated with bullying. The participants did not perceive bullying as affecting patient safety.     

Poland综合征乳房缺如整形术的护理

目的探讨Poland综合征乳房缺如整形术的护理方法,降低并发症的发生率。方法对22例实施硅凝胶假体置入术或背阔肌肌瓣转移加硅凝胶假体置入术的Poland综合征乳房缺如患者的术前准备、术后护理、出院指导等进行回顾性分析。结果22例患者均治愈出院,其中1例患者于术后第5天出现血清肿,用无菌注射器穿刺抽液,并加压包扎5d后痊愈;术后随访1个月至5年,其中17例患者乳房外形对称、手感满意、局部无胀感;5例患者认为乳房外形对称性欠佳,局部有轻度胀感,手感一般。结论Poland综合征乳房缺如整形术的护理重点是术前针对不同患者做好心理护理、术后做好引流管护理和正确的乳房按摩。